IBLE STORIES 






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Selected and arranged by 
FRANCES JENKINS OLCOTT 



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PUBLISHED BY 

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BIBLE STORIES TO READ AND TELL. lUus- 

trated in color by Willy Pogany. 
GOOD STORIES FOR GREAT HOLIDAYS. 

Illustrated. 
STORY-TELLING POEMS. 
THE CHILDREN'S READING. 

With A mena Pendleton 
THE JOLLY BOOK FOR BOYS AND GIRLS. 



BIBLE STORIES TO READ AND TELL 




I'aye 410 



DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN 



TOREADandTELL 

150 Stories from the Old Testament 
urith References [otheOic/andMiirTesta?nents 
Selected and Arranged by 
FRANCES JENKINS OLCOTT 




Illustrations by 
Willy Pogdny 



i|0tt0hton IHiff Utt Compaag 

Boston and 3^t\x> ^ovK 

1916 



■BS55I 
,©5 



COPYRIGHT, I916, BY FRANCES JENKINS OLCOTT 
AND WILLY FOGANY 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 

Published November iqib 



NOV 24 19/6 



©GI.A44653':i 



Wo ttie CljilDren 

The Lord bless thee, and keep 
thee : 

The Lord make his face shine 
upon thee, and he gracious unto thee : 

The Lord lift up his countenance 
upon thee, and give thee peace. 

The Camp Blessing 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

Thanks are due the following publishers and authors 
for permission to use extracts from their books: — 

D. Apple ton & Co., Felix Adler, Moral Instruction 
of Children. J. B. Lippincott Company, S. G. Fisher, 
True Daniel Webster, Little, Brown & Co., J. H. Cox, 
Literature in the Common Schools. The Macmillan 
Company, Lord Bryce, American Commonwealth. 
Houghton Mifflin Company, Arlo Bates, Talks on 
the Study of Literature; H. C. Lodge, Daniel Webster. 



CONTENTS 

Introduction xix 

In the Beginning 

The Creation of the Heaven and the Earth . 3 

The Creation'of Man 5 

The Garden of Eden 7 

God speaks 8 

A Song of Creation 11 

The Lost Paradise 

The Subtil Serpent 15 

The First Murderer 18 

The Ark of Gopher Wood 20 

The Flood of Great Waters 22 

The Raven and the Dove 24 

The First Rainbow 27 

The Tower of Babel 28 



Abraham, the Friend of God 
"I will make of thee a Great Nation" . 
The Battle of the Four Kings with Five 
The Priest of the Most High God 
Abraham's Exceeding Great Reward . 
"Nay, but thou didst laugh" . . 
The Curse of Sodom and Gomorrah . 
Why Lot's Wife became a Pillar of Salt 



33 
34 
36 

37 
38 
39 

42 



X CONTENTS 

God will provide Himself a Lamb ... 44 
The Search for Isaac's Bride 47 



Jacob and Esau, Isaac's Sons 

How Esau the Elder Brother despised his 

Birthright 57 

The Stolen Blessing 58 

The Vision of Jacob's Ladder 63 

Jacob's Twelve Sons 

Joseph's Dreams 67 

How Joseph was sold into Egypt .... 68 
How Pharaoh's Butler, and Pharaoh's Baker 

dreamed Dreams 71 

How Pharaoh dreamed a Dream . . . .74 

The Mighty Ruler of Egypt 77 

His Brethren bow down to Joseph ... 79 

The Strange Money in the Mouths of the Sacks 82 

How Benjamin went down into Egypt . . 85 

The Silver Cup in the Corn 88 

*T am Joseph your Brother whom you sold 

into Egypt'* 91 



In Egyptian Bondage 
The House of Bondage 
Moses in the Ark of Bulrushes 
Moses and the Burning Bush 
The Rod that became a Serpent 
Bricks without Straw 
God tells His Name to Moses 



97 

98 

99 

103 

106 

108 



CONTENTS xi 

The Ten Plagues of Egypt 

The Rods of the Egyptian Magicians . .113 

The First Plague — The River of Blood . . 115 

The Second Plague — The Scourge of Frogs . 116 
The Third Plague — The Lice . . . .118 

The Fourth Plague — The Swarms of Flies . 119 

The Fifth Plague — The Grievous Murrain . 121 
The Sixth Plague — The Boils on Man and 

Beast 122 

The Seventh Plague — The Hail and Fire . 122 
The Eighth Plague — The Locusts that cov- 
ered the Land 125 

The Ninth Plague — Darkness that might be 

felt 128 

The Blood of the Lamb that was slain . ,130 
The Tenth Plague — The Death of the First- 
born 131 

The Pillar of Cloud, and the Pillar of Fire . . 133 
How Pharaoh's Horses and Chariots were cast 

into the Red Sea 134 

The Song of Triumph 138 



Forty Years in the Wilderness 

The Angels' Food 143 

Written with the Finger of God .... 147 

The Ten Commandments 149 

A Few of the Many Laws God gave Israel. 151 

The Golden Calf 157 

The Grapes of Eshcol 162 

The Giants, the Sons of Anak . . . .163 



xii CONTENTS 

How the People reproached God and were 

punished 164 

How Moses disobeyed God 168 

The Fiery Serpents 170 

Balaam's Ass that spoke 171 

Some of the Words Moses spake to the Children 

of Israel 176 

The Burial of Moses 185 

The Promised Land 

The Scarlet Thread in the Window . . .191 
Why the Walls of Jericho fell down flat . 194 

The Crafty Gibeonites 198 

Joshua's Farewell 202 

In the Days of the Judges 

And Israel worshipped Idols ..... 209 

Gideon's Fleece 211 

The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon . .213 

Jephthah's Daughter 217 

Samson's Riddle 220 

" With the Jawbone of an Ass, Heaps upon 

Heaps!" . 224 

Samson the Mighty and the Gate of Gaza . 226 
"The Philistines be upon thee, Samson!" . . 226 

The Gentile Daughter 230 

How Ruth gleaned in the Field of Boaz . . 233 
The Child Samuel 236 



CONTENTS xiii 

The Three Great Kings 

"Nay, but we will have a King over us!** . . 243 

Goliath, the Giant 245 

David's Battle with GoKath 247 

Jonathan, King Saul's Son 253 

The Jealous King 254 

The Message of the Three Arrows . . . 255 
How Saul was delivered into David's Hand . 260 

The Witch of Endor 264 

Saul's Last Battle 267 

The Taking of the Castle of Zion . . . .269 

How are the Mighty fallen! 270 

The Three Mightiest 272 

King David's Grievous Sin 273 

"Thou art the Man!" 275 

Absalom, King David's Son 278 

The Punishment of Absalom 282 

The House of the Lord God of Israel . . .287 
King Solomon's Choice ...... 289 

The Judgment of Solomon 292 

The Treasures of King Solomon .... 293 

The Queen of Sheba 296 

King Solomon's Sin 297 

The Kingdom of the Ten Tribes 

The New Garment rent in Twelve Pieces . 303 
How the Ten Tribes rebelled, and made a 

Kingdom of their own 305 

The Wicked Jeroboam who made Israel to Sin 308 
King Ahab the Wicked . . - . . . .310 



xiv CONTENTS 

The Ravens that Fed EHjah 311 

Elijah and the Widow's Son 312 

Baal's Prophets 314 

A Still Small Voice S90 

Naboth's Vineyard 323 

The Chariot of Fire 327 

The Wicked Lads 330 

Death in the Pot 331 

Naaman the Leper and the Little Maid of 

Israel 332 

The Punishment of Gehazi 335 

The Driving of Jehu, the Son of Nimshi . . 336 
And God prepared a Great Fish . . . .341 

The Doom of Nineveh 344 

The Gourd and God's Pity ..... 345 
The Ten Tribes carried away . . . . . 347 

The Kingdom of the Tribe of Judah 

The Evil Reign of Rehoboam 353 

The Little Hidden King 354 

How the Angel of the Lord smote the Assyrians 

by Night 350 

To whom will ye liken God? 364 

The Abominations of Manasseh .... 366 

The Boy King of Judah 368 

How the Boy King broke down the Idols' 

Groves 371 

How the Lord intended to punish Judah for 

Idolatry 377 

How the People of Judah were carried Cap- 
tives to Babylon 380 



CONTENTS XV 

The Babylonian Captivity 

The Four Wise Youths ...... 385 

The Great and Terrible Image . . . .387 

The Burning Fiery Furnace 394 

The Proud King, whose Heart was lifted up . 398 

Belshazzar's Feast 403 

Daniel in the Lions' Den . . . *. . . 408 
The Return from the Captivity . . . .412 

Stories of Some Who Did Not Retuen 

How Queen Vashti would not 417 

Esther the Beautiful 420 

The Plot of that Wicked Haman . . . .422 

"And if I perish, I perish!" 425 

The Golden Sceptre 427 

The Gallows Fifty Cubits High . . . .428 
The Man whom the King delighted to honour 429 
Queen Esther's Feast 432 

Hear O Ye Nations 435 

The Messiah 

The Promise 445 

The Messenger 447 

His Birth 449 

His Message . . 450 

His Sacrifice 455 

The Resurrection 461 

His Ascension ' . . 462 

His Eternal Kingdom 463 



xvi CONTENTS 

Appendices 

Appendix A. The Place of the Bible in the 
Education of Children, from the Writings of 
John Milton, Thomas Carlyle, John Ruskin, 
Abraham Lincoln, Lord Bryce, Wesley, 
Luther, and other eminent men . . . 469 

Appendix B. From Holy Scripture . , . 480 

Appendix C. Editions of the Bible recom- 
mended for children 483 



ILLUSTRATIONS 

Daniel in the Lions' Den .... Frontispiece i^ 

AbeFs Sacrifice 18 ^ ' 

Joseph before Pharaoh 76 ^"^ 

The Finding of Moses . 98 - 

Moses and the Tables of Stone 148 % 

David and Goliath . . . . . . . .250 k 

King Solomon's Judgment 292 i 

Esther accusing Haman 432 - 



INTRODUCTION 

Ways This Book May Be Used 

Story-tellers may use it at all times. 

Mothers may read it aloud at bedtime or on 
Sunday afternoons. 

Teachers may read it to pupils, or use it in class 
work. 

Sunday-School teachers may use it with begin- 
ners as an Old Testament History. 

Children may read it with pleasure and look up 
the stories referred to in their Bibles. 

HESE stories are selected from the King 
James Version of the Old Testament, the 
powerful English and forceful imagery of 
which have moulded the style and thought 
of generations of English-speaking men and 
women. In editing the stories, a few words 
unsuitable for children have been omitted, and 
others expressing the same meanings inserted. 
Where an occasional passage of the Authorized 
Version was not clear, correction has been made, 
following either the English and American Re- 
vised Versions, or that of Isaac Leeser. 

The stories are not meant to take the place 
of the Bible, but to lead to the wider reading of 



XX INTRODUCTION " 

both Old and New Testaments. References are 
given after some stories so that the children may 
look them up in their Bibles. Every child should 
own its Bible in an attractive edition. A list 
of editions suitable for children, with prices and 
publishers' addresses, is given on page 483 of 
this book. 

The arrangement forms an outline of Old Testa- 
ment history, and the stories selected emphasize 
the providence of God Almighty, his justice and 
mercy, his punishment of evildoers, and his loving 
care of those who are obedient to his will, and 
desire to serve Him. At the end of the volume 
is a brief anthology of verses showing the two 
main threads that bind together the Holy Scrip- 
tures, Old and New, — the gathering of "the 
scattered Nation" and the coming of the 
Messiah. 

The ceremonial law, and other parts unintelli- 
gible to children, have been omitted, and refer- 
ences have been made to some of the Psalms and 
other prophetic books, so that the children may 
look them up in their Bibles. Care has been taken 
to select stories having story-telling qualities and 
themes frequently referred to in literature and 
art. Without a knowledge of these a man or 
woman is not well-educated. A few selections 
have been added that explain the stories. 

It is impossible to estimate the value of the 



INTRODUCTION xxi 

Bible in the education of children, or to sound the 
depths of its spiritual, moral, and literary influ- 
ences. Most impressive is the evidence given by 
such men as Lord Bryce, J. R. Green, Ruskin, 
Carlyle, Daniel Webster, Lincoln, Sir Walter 
Scott, Wesley, and Luther. The opinions of these 
men, as well as those of other eminent persons, 
as to the educational value of the Bible in the 
training of children in the home, school, and 
church, may be found on pages 469-479 of this 
volume. The reader's attention is especially 
directed to Lord Bryce's warning to America, 
on page 476. 

SUGGESTIONS FOR STORY-TELLERS 

Before telling a Bible story, the story-teller 
should read it over several times, until she has 
made its language, style, and plot her own. 
Then she may retell it as nearly as possible in 
Bible manner, keeping the story objective, and 
avoiding all moralizing, clogging detail, and sen- 
timental descriptions. The force of the Bible 
stories lies not only in their spiritual and moral 
significance, but in the simple vigor of their re- 
cital and in the sincerity of language and fact. 

After the story is over, the children will be 
delighted to hear of the wonderful discoveries 
made lately in Assyria, Egypt, and Arabia, and 
of the finding and deciphering of inscriptions. 



xxii INTRODUCTION 



OLD TESTAMENT HISTOEY CONFIKMING THE 
MONUMENTS 

Boys and girls listen eagerly to tales of buried 
cities uncovered, and ancient treasures unearthed, 
and of the Assyrian who '*came down like the 
wolf on the fold." They will find more wonderful 
than romance the history of modern excavation 
in the Orient, and the stories related by the an- 
cient monuments and the clay tablets from the 
Assyrian libraries. After the Bible story is over, 
the story-teller may tell of the discovery of the 
Moabite Stone, and of the Inscription on the wall 
of the Pool of Siloam, and of the finding of the 
treasure city — Pithom — built by the Hebrews 
for Pharaoh. The Egyptologist who uncovered 
this city found some of the bricks made with straw 
and some without straw. 

The English Assyriologist, Professor Sayce, 
writes: "Unexpected light has been thrown upon 
facts and statements hitherto obscure, or a wholly 
new explanation has been given of some event re- 
corded by the inspired writer. What can be more 
startling than the discovery of the great Hittite 
Empire, the very existence of which had been for- 
gotten, and which yet once contended on equal 
terms with Egypt on the one side, and Assyria on 
the other .^ The allusions to the Hittites in the Old 
Testament, which had been doubted by a skep- 



INTRODUCTION xxiii 

tical criticism, have been shown to be fully in 
accordance with the facts, and their true place 
in history has been pointed out." 

The Semitic scholar, Professor Fritz Hommel, 
of the University of Munich, who has given much 
study to the deciphering of Assyro-Babylonian 
and South Arabian inscriptions, says: "We have 
seen from the evidence of personal names, and 
of inscriptions also, that personalities such as 
those of Abraham and Melchizedek, have noth- 
ing of the nature of anachronisms about them, 
but rest upon traditions which had been put into 
writing long before the time of Moses. . . . How 
much further material lies still buried in the soil 
of Babylon, Arabia, and Egypt, with promise of 
new surprises and further confirmation! Let us 
in the meantime, in thankful acknowledgment of 
the Providence of God, rejoice in the treasures 
already brought to the surface. The contem- 
poraneous monuments illustrating the religious 
and secular history of Abraham's time are indeed 
worth their weight in gold." 

The story-teller will find descriptions of these 
discoveries, and many more as wonderful, in 
Professor Sayce's little book. Fresh Light from 
the Monuments. This small volume, written in 
a simple yet interesting way, will not only fur- 
nish the boys and girls with historical matter 
illustrative of the Bible, but it may fire their 



xxiv INTRODUCTION 

imaginations so that they will read other books 
telling of these ancient peoples. Layard's Nine- 
veh and its Remains, Wilkinson's or Rawlinson's 
volumes on Ancient Egypt, and Rawlinson's 
Phoenicia, cannot fail to fascinate older children 
both by text and pictures. 



Ith- ^^^mg^ 



Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. 

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst 
formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to ever- 
lasting, thou art God. 

For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday 
when it is past, and as a watch in the night. 

Psalm 90 



BIBLE STORIES 
TO READ AND TELL 

THE CREATION OF THE HEAVEN 
AND THE EARTH 

N the beginning God created the heaven and 
the earth. And the earth was without form, 
and void; and darkness was upon the face 
of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved 
upon the face of the waters. 

And God said, "Let there be light:" and 
there was light. And God saw the light, that it 
was good: and God divided the light from the 
darkness. And God called the light Day, and the 
darkness he called Night. And the evening and 
the morning were the first day. 

And God said, "Let there be a firmament in 
the midst of the waters, and let it divide the 
waters from the waters." And God made the 
firmament, and divided the waters which were 
under the firmament from the waters which were 
above the firmament: and it was so. And God 
called the firmament Heaven. And the evening 
and the morning were the second day. 

And God said, "Let the waters under the 
heaven be gathered together unto one place, and 



4 BIBLE STORIES 

let the dry land appear: "and it was so. And God 
called the dry land Earth; and the gathering to- 
gether of the waters called he Seas : and God saw 
that it was good. And God said, **Let the earth 
bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the 
fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed 
is in itself, upon the earth:" and it was so. And 
the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding 
seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, 
whose seed was in itself, after his kind : and God 
saw that it was good. And the evening and the 
morning were the third day. 

And God said, "Let there be lights in the firma- 
ment of the heaven to divide the day from the 
night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, 
and for days, and years. And let them be for 
lights in the firmament of the heaven to give 
light upon the earth:" and it was so. And God 
made two great lights; the greater light to rule 
the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: 
he made the stars also. And God set them in the 
firmament of the heaven to give light upon the 
earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, 
and to divide the light from the darkness: and 
God saw that it was good. And the evening and 
the morning were the fourth day. 

And God said, "Let the waters bring forth 
abundantly the moving creature that hath life, 
and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open 



THE CREATION OF MAN 5 

firmament of heaven." And God created the great 
sea-monsters, and every living creature that 
moveth, which the waters brought forth abun- 
dantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl 
after his kind : and God saw that it was good. And 
God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful, and mul- 
tiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl 
multiply in the earth." And the evening and 
the morning were the fifth day. 
^ And God said, "Let the earth bring forth the 
living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping 
thing, and beast of the earth after his kind:" and 
it was so. And God made the beast of the earth 
after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and 
every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his 
kind : and God saw that it was good. 

Genesis, 1 

THE CREATION OF MAN 

And God said, "Let us make man in our image, 
after our likeness: and let them have dominion 
over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the 
air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, 
and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon 
the earth." So God created man in his own image, 
in the image of God created he him; male and 
female created he them. 

And God blessed them, and God said unto 



6 BIBLE STORIES 

them, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish 
the earth, and subdue it : and have dominion over 
the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, 
and over every living thing that moveth upon the 
earth." 

And God said, "Behold, I have given you every 
herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all 
the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit 
of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 
And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl 
of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon 
the earth, wherein there is life, I have given 
every green herb for meat:" and it was so. 

And God saw every thing that he had made, 
and, behold, it was very good. And the evening 
and the morning were the sixth day. 

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, 
and all the host of them. And on the seventh day 
God ended his work which he had made; and he 
rested on the seventh day from all his work which 
he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, 
and sanctified it : because that in it he had rested 
from all his work which God created and made. 

These are the generations of the heavens and of 
the earth when they were created, in the day that 
the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, 
and every plant of the field before it was in the 
earth, and every herb of the field before it grew : 



THE GARDEN OF EDEN 7 

for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon 
the earth, and there was not a man to till the 
ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, 
and watered the whole face of the ground. 

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of 
the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the 
breath of life; and man became a living soul. 

Genesis, 1, 2 

THE GARDEN OF EDEN 

And the Lord God planted a garden eastward 
in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had 
formed. And out of the ground made the Lord 
God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the 
sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the 
midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge 
of good and evil. And a river went out of Eden 
to water the garden. 

And the Lord God took the man, and put him 
into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, 
"Of every tree of the garden thou may est freely 
eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and 
evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that 
thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." 

And the Lord God said, " It is not good that the 
man should be alone; I will make him an help meet 
for him." And out of the ground the Lord God 



8 BIBLE STORIES 

formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of 
the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what 
he would call them : and whatsoever Adam called 
every living creature, that was the name thereof. 
And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the 
fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; 
but for Adam there was not found an help meet 
for him. 

And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall 
upon Adam, and he slept : and he took one of his 
ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof. And 
the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, 
made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 

And Adam said, "This is now bone of my bones, 
and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called Woman, 
because she was taken out of Man." Therefore 
shall a man leave his father and his mother, and 
shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one 
flesh. 

And they were both naked, the man and his wife, 
and were not ashamed. 

Genesis, 2 

GOD SPEAKS 

Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words 
without knowledge .f^ 

Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will de- 
mand of thee, and answer thou me, 



GOD SPEAKS 9 

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of 
the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 

Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou 
knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 

Whereupon are the foundations thereof fas- 
tened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 

When the morning stars sang together, and all 
the sons of God shouted for joy? 

Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it 
brake forth? 

When I made the cloud the garment thereof, 
and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it. 

And brake up for it my decreed place, and set 
bars and doors, 

And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no fur- 
ther: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? 

Hast thou commanded the morning since thy 
days; and caused the day spring to know his place; 

That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, 
that the wicked might be shaken out of it? 

It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as 
a garment. 

And from the wicked their light is withholden, 
and the high arm shall be broken. 

Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? 
or hast thou walked in the search of the depth? 

Have the gates of death been opened unto 
thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of 
death? 



10 BIBLE STORIES 

Hast thou comprehended the earth in its 
breadth? declare if thou knowest it all. 

Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as 
for darkness, where is the place thereof, 

That thou shouldest take it to the bound 
thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths 
to the house thereof? 

Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? 
or because the number of thy days is great? 

Hast thou entered into the treasures of the 
snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail. 

Which I have reserved against the time of 
trouble, against the day of battle and war? 

By what way is the light parted, which scat- 
tereth the east wind upon the earth? 

Who hath divided a watercourse for the over- 
flowing of waters^ or a way for the lightning of 
thunder; 

To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man 
is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; 

To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to 
cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? 

Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleia- 
des, or loose the bands of Orion? 

Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his sea- 
son? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? 

Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst 
thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? 



A SONG OF CREATION 11 

Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that 
abundance of waters may cover thee? 

Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, 
and say unto thee, Here we are? 

Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or 
who hath given understanding to the heart? 

Job, 38 



A SONG OF CREATION 

Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from 
the heavens: praise him in the heights. 

Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all 
his hosts. 

Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye 
stars of light. 

Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye 
waters that be above the heavens. 

Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he 
commanded, and they were created. 

He hath also stablished them for ever and 
ever: he hath made a decree which shall not 
pass. 

Praise the Lord from the earth, ye sea-mon- 
sters, and all deeps: 

Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind 
fulfilling his word : 

Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all 
cedars : 



n BIBLE STORIES 

Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and fly- 
ing fowl : 

Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and 
all judges of the earth: 

Both young men, and maidens; old men, and 
children : 

Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his 
name alone is excellent; his glory is above the 
earth and heaven. 

Psalm 148 

For more about the Creation, read : " Doth Not Wisdom 
Cry?'' Proverbs, chap. 8 ; ''Some Songs of Creation," Job, 
chaps. 35-Ji-l; Psalms, 65, 104; *' By Him All Things Were 
Made," John, chap. 1, verses 1-18; chap. 8, verse 58; and 
chap. 17; 1 Corinthians, chap. 8, verse 6; Ephesians, chap. 3, 
verse 9; Colossians, chap. 1, verses 12-23 



S.k M ^ara&e 



And the Lord God said unto the serpent, "Because thou hast 
done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast 
of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat 
all the days of thy life. 

"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and 
between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou 
shalt bruise his heel.'' 

Genesis, 3 




THE SUBTIL SERPENT 

ow the serpent was more subtil than any 
beast of the field which the Lord God 
had made. And he said unto the wo- 
man, "Yea, hath God said, *Ye shall not 
eat of every tree of the garden?'" 
And the woman said unto the serpent, " We 
may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but 
of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of 
the garden, God hath said, * Ye shall not eat of 
it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.'" 

And the serpent said unto the woman, "Ye 
shall not surely die : for God doth know that in the 
day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, 
and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." 
And when the woman saw that the tree was 
good for food, and that it was pleasant to the 
eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she 
took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave 
also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they 
knew that they were naked; and they sewed ^g 
leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 

And they heard the voice of the Lord God 
walking in the garden in the cool of the day. 
And Adam and his wife hid themselves from the 



16 BIBLE STORIES 

presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the 
garden. 

And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said 
unto him, "Where art thou?" 

And he said, "I heard thy voice in the garden, 
and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid 
myself." 

And he said, "Who told thee that thou wast 
naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I 
commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?" 

And the man said, "The woman whom thou 
gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, 
and I did eat." 

And the Lord God said unto the woman, 
"What is this that thou hast done? " 

And the woman said, "The serpent beguiled 
me, and I did eat." 

And the Lord God said unto the serpent, "Be- 
cause thou hast done this, thou art cursed above 
all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon 
thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat 
all the days of thy life. And I will put enmity 
between thee and the woman, and between thy 
seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and 
thou shalt bruise his heel." 

Unto the woman he said, "I will greatly multi- 
ply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou 
shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall 
be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." 



THE SUBTIL SERPENT 17 

And unto Adam he said, "Because thou hast 
hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast 
eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, 
saying, ' Thou shalt not eat of it : ' cursed is the 
ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it 
all the days of thy life. Thorns also and thistles 
shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the 
herb of the field. In the sweat of thy face shalt 
thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; 
for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, 
and unto dust shalt thou return." 

And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because 
she was the mother of all living. Unto Adam also 
and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of 
skins, and clothed them. 

And the Lord God said, "Behold, the man is 
become as one of us, to know good and evil : and 
now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of 
the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:" There- 
fore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden 
of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was 
taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at 
the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a 
flaming sword which turned every way, to keep 
the way of the tree of life. 

Genesis, 3 

For more about the Old Serpent read : " The Fallen Angels" 
Isaiah, chap, liy verses 9-15; Luke, 10 y verses 17-20 ; 2 Corin- 
thians, chap, 11 y verses ^-15; Jude, verse 6; ''The Roaring 



18 BIBLE STORIES 

Lion,'^ 1 Peter, chap. 5, verses 8-9 ; *'The Temptation in the 
Wilderness,^* Matthew, chap. ^, verses 1-11 ; Luke, chap. ^, 
verses 1-13 ; " The Whole Armour of God,"' Ephesians, chap. 6, 
verses 10-18 ; 1 Corinthians, chap. 10, verse 13 ; Hebrews, chap, 
Ji-, verses 14^-16 ; " The Punishment of that Old Serpent," Revela- 
tion, chap. 20 



THE FIRST MURDERER 

And Eve bare Cain, and said, "I have gotten 
a man from the Lord." And she again bare his 
brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, 
but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 

And in process of time it came to pass, that 
Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offer- 
ing unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of 
the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. 
And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his 
offering. But unto Cain and to his offering he had 
not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his 
countenance fell. 

And the Lord said unto Cain, "Why art thou 
wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen .^^ If 
thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted.^ and 
if thou doest not well, sin coucheth at the door; 
and unto thee shall be its desire, but do thou rule 
over it." 

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it 
came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain 
rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 




ABEL S SACRIFICE 



THE FIRST MURDEKER 19 

And the Lord said unto Cain, " Where is Abel 
thy brother?" 

And he said, "I know not. Am I my brother's 
keeper?" 

And he said, "What hast thou done? the voice 
of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the 
ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, 
which hath opened her mouth to receive thy 
brother's blood from thy hand. When thou till- 
est the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto 
thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt 
thou be in the earth." 

And Cain said unto the Lord, " My punishment 
is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast 
driven me out this day from the face of the earth; 
and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a 
fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall 
come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall 
slay me." 

And the Lord said unto him, "Therefore who- 
soever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on 
him sevenfold." And the Lord set a mark upon 
Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. 

And Cain went out from the presence of the 
Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east 
of Eden. 

Genesis, 4 

For more about "Cain and AheV read: 1 John, chap. 3, 
verses 10-2^ 



20 BIBLE STORIES 

THE ARK OF GOPHER WOOD 

And it came to pass, when men began to mul- 
tiply on the face of the earth, God saw that the 
wickedness of man was great in the earth, and 
that every imagination of the thoughts of his 
heart was only evil continually. And it repented 
the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and 
it grieved him at his heart. 

And the Lord said, "I will destroy man whom 
I have created from the face of the earth; both 
man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the 
fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have 
made them." 

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 

These are the generations of Noah: Noah was 
a just man and perfect in his generations, and 
Noah walked with God. And Noah begat three 
sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 

The earth also was corrupt before God, and the 
earth was filled with violence. And God looked 
upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for 
all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. 

And God said unto Noah, "The end of all flesh 
is come before me; for the earth is filled with 
violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy 
them with the earth. 

"Make thee an ark of gopher wood. Rooms 
shg^lt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within 



THE ARK OF GOPHER WOOD 21 

and without with pitch. And this is the fashion 
which thou shalt make it of. The length of the 
ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of 
it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. 
A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a 
cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of 
the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with 
lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. 

"And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of 
waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, 
wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; 
and every thing that is in the earth shall die. 
But with thee will I establish my covenant; and 
thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, 
and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. 

"And of every living thing of all flesh, two of 
every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep 
them alive with thee; they shall be male and fe- 
male. Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle 
after their kind, of every creeping thing of the 
earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come 
unto thee, to keep them alive. And take thou 
unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt 
gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, 
and for them." 

Thus did Noah; according to all that God com- 
manded him, so did he. Genesis, 6 

Fof more about Noah read: **As it Was in the Days of Noe,^* 
St. Luke, chap. 17, verses 20-37; and *' God Waited in the Days 
of Noah,"'' 1 Peter, chap. 3, verses 18-22 



22 BIBLE STORIES 

THE FLOOD OF GREAT WATERS 

And the Lord said unto Noah, "Come thou 
and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I 
seen righteous before me in this generation. 

"Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee 
by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts 
that are not clean by two, the male and his female. 
Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and 
the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all 
the earth. For yet seven days, and I will cause it 
to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; 
and every living substance that I have made will 
I destroy from off the face of the earth." 

And Noah did according unto all that the Lord 
commanded him. And Noah was six hundred years 
old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. 

And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, 
and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, be- 
cause of the waters of the flood. Of clean beasts, 
and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, 
and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth, 
there went in two and two unto Noah into the 
ark, the male and the female, as God had com- 
manded Noah. 

And it came to pass after seven days, that the 
waters of the flood were upon the earth. In the 
six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second 
month, the seventeenth day of the month, the 



THE FLOOD OF GREAT WATERS 23 

same day were all the fountains of the great deep 
broken up, and the windows of heaven were 
opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty 
days and forty nights. 

In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, 
and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and 
Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with 
them, into the ark; they, and every beast after 
his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and 
every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth 
after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every 
bird of every sort. And they went in unto Noah 
into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is 
the breath of life. And they that went in, went in 
male and female of all flesh, as God had com- 
manded him: and the Lord shut him in. 

And the flood was forty days upon the earth. 
And the waters increased, and bare up the ark, 
and it was lift up above the earth. And the wa- 
ters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the 
earth; and the ark went upon the face of the wa- 
ters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon 
the earth; and all the high hills, that were under 
the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits 
upward did the waters prevail; and the moun- 
tains were covered. 

And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, 
both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and 
of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the 



U BIBLE STORIES 

earth, and every man. All in whose nostrils was 
the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, 
died. And every living substance was destroyed 
which was upon the face of the ground, both man, 
and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl 
of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the 
earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they 
that were with him in the ark. 

And the waters prevailed upon the earth an 
hundred and fifty days. 

Genesis, 7 

THE RAVEN AND THE DOVE 

And God remembered Noah, and every living 
thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the 
ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, 
and the waters assuaged. The fountains also of 
the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, 
and the rain from heaven was restrained. And the 
waters returned from off the earth continually: 
and after the end of the hundred and fifty days 
the waters were abated. 

And the ark rested in the seventh month, on 
the seventeenth day of the month, upon the 
mountains of Ararat. And the waters decreased 
continually until the tenth month. In the tenth 
month, on the first day of the month, were the 
tops of the mountains seen. 



THE RAVEN AND THE DOVE 25 

And it came to pass at the end of forty days, 
that Noah opened the window of the ark which he 
had made. And he sent forth a raven, which went 
forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up 
from off the earth. Also he sent forth a dove from 
him, to see if the waters were abated from off the 
face of the ground. But the dove found no rest 
for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him 
into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the 
whole earth. Then he put forth his hand, and 
took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark. 

And he stayed yet other seven days; and again 
he sent forth the dove out of the ark. And the 
dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her 
mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off. So Noah knew 
that the waters were abated from off the earth. 

And he stayed yet other seven days ; and sent 
forth the dove; which returned not again unto 
him any more. 

And it came to pass in the six hundredth and 
first year, in the first month, the first day of 
the month, the waters were dried up from off 
the earth. And Noah removed the covering of the 
ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the 
ground was dry. And in the second month, on 
the seven and twentieth day of the month, was 
the earth dried. 

And God spake unto Noah, saying, "Go forth 
of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and 



26 BIBLE STORIES 

thy sons' wives with thee. Bring forth with thee 
every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, 
both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping 
thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may 
breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, 
and multiply upon the earth." 

And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his 
wife, and his sons' wives with him. Every beast, 
every creeping thing, and every fowl, and what- 
soever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, 
went forth out of the ark. 

And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and 
took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, 
and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 

And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the 
Lord said in his heart, "I will not again curse the 
ground any more for man's sake; for the imagina- 
tion of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither 
will I again smite any more every thing living, as 
I have done. While the earth remaineth, seed- 
time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer 
and winter, and day and night shall not cease." 

Genesis, 8 



THE FIRST RAINBOW 27 

THE FIRST RAINBOW 

And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with 
him, saying, " And I, behold, I establish my cove- 
nant with you, and with your seed after you; and 
with every living creature that is with you, of 
the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the 
earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, 
to every beast of the earth. And I will establish 
my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be 
cutoff any more by the waters of a flood; neither 
shall there any more be a flood to destroy the 
earth." 

And God said, " This is the token of the cove- 
nant which I make between me and you and every 
living creature that is with you, for perpetual gen- 
erations. I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall 
be for a token of a covenant between me and the 
earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a 
cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in 
the cloud. And I will remember my covenant, 
which is between me and you and every living 
creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more 
become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow 
shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that 
I may remember the everlasting covenant be- 
tween God and every living creature of all flesh 
that is upon the earth." 

And God said unto Noah, "This is the token of 



28 BIBLE STORIES 

the covenant, which I have estabHshed between 
me and all flesh that is upon the earth." 

And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the 
ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth : and Ham 
is the father of Canaan. These are the three sons 
of Noah, and of them was the whole earth over- 
spread. 

Genesis, 9 

Read also : " Man's Place in Nature'' Genesis, chap. 9, 
verses 1-7; " The Curse of Ham," Genesis, chap. 9, verses 



THE TOWER OF BABEL 

And the whole earth was of one language, and 
of one speech. 

And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the 
east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; 
and they dwelt there. 

And they said one to another, "Go to, let us 
make brick, and burn them throughly." And 
they had brick for stone, and slime had they for 
morter. And they said, "Go to, let us build us 
a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto 
heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be 
scattered abroad upon the face of the whole 
earth." 

And the Lord came down to see the city and the 
tower, which the children of men builded. And 



THE TOWER OF BABEL 29 

the Lord said, "Behold, the people is one, and 
they have all one language; and this they begin to 
do : and now nothing will be restrained from them, 
which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go 
down, and there confound their language, that 
they may not understand one another's speech." 
So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence 
upon the face of all the earth. And they left off 
to build the city. Therefore is the name of it 
called Babel; because the Lord did there confound 
the language of all the earth: and from thence 
did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of 
all the earth. 

Genesis, 11 

Read also about: *'Jubal and Tuhal-Cain,** Genesis, chap. 
U, verses 20-22; ** Enoch and Methuselah,'' Genesis, chap. 5, 
verses 18-27; " Nimrod the Mighty Huntery' Genesis, chap. 10, 
verses 8-12 



graham fhe^riettJ) of ®oi 



And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him Jor 
righteousness. 

Genesis, 15 



"I WILL MAKE OF THEE A GREAT 
NATION " 

ERAH begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; 
and Haran begat Lot. And Haran died 
before his father Terah in the land of 
his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. And 
Abram and Nahor took them wives: the 
name of Abram's wife was Sarai. She had 
no child. 

And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son 
of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in 
law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth 
with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into 
the land of Canaan, and they came unto Haran 
and dwelt there. 

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, " Get thee 
out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and 
from thy father's house, unto a land that I will 
shew thee. And I will make of thee a great na- 
tion, and I will bless thee, and make thy name 
great; and thou shalt be a blessing. And I will 
bless them that bless thee, and curse him that 
curseth thee : and in thee shall all families of the 
earth be blessed." 

So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken 
unto him; and Lot went with him. And Abram 



34 BIBLE STORIES 

was seventy and five years old when he departed 
out of Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, 
and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance 
that they had gathered, and the souls that they 
had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go 
into the land of Canaan; and into the land of 
Canaan they came. 

And Abram passed through the land unto the 
place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And 
the Canaanite was then in the land. And the 
Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, "Unto thy 
seed will I give this land:" and there builded 
he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto 
him. 

And he removed from thence unto a mountain 
on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having 
Beth-el on the west, and Hai on the east. And 
there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and 
called upon the name of the Lord. 

Genesis, 11, 12 

For more about this 'promise to Abraham read : " The Light 
of the Worldy" St, John, chap, 8, verses 12-59 

THE BATTLE OF THE FOUR KINGS 
WITH FIVE 

And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel 
king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedor- 
laomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; 



THE BATTLE OF THE KINGS 35 

there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of 
Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king 
of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is 
Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the 
vale of Siddim; with Chedorlaomer the king of 
Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Am- 
raphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; 
four kings with five. 

And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; 
and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and 
fell there; and they that remained fled to the 
mountain. And they took all the goods of Sodom 
and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went 
their way. And they took Lot, Abram's brother's 
son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and 
departed. 

And there came one that had escaped, and told 
Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain 
fo Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and 
brother of Aner : and these were confederate with 
Abram. 

And when Abram heard that his brother was 
taken captive, he armed his trained servants, 
born in his own house, three hundred and eight- 
een, and pursued them unto Dan. And he di- 
vided himself against them, he and his servants, 
by night, and smote them, and pursued them 
unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damas- 
cus. And he brought back all the goods, and also 



S6 BIBLE STORIES 

brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and 
the women also, and the people. 

And the king of Sodom went out to meet him 
after his return from the slaughter of Chedor- 
laomer, and of the kings that were with him, at 
the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale. 

Genesis, 14 

Read **How Lot Came to Dwell in Sodom/* Genesisy chap. 13 



THE PEIEST OF THE MOST HIGH GOD 

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth 
bread and wine: and he was the priest of the" 
most high God. 

And he blessed him, and said, "Blessed be 
Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven 
and earth: and blessed be the most high God, 
which hath delivered thine enemies into thy 
hand." And he gave him tithes of all. 

And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, 
"Give me the persons, and take the goods to thy- 
self." 

And Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have 
lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high 
God, the possessor of heaven and earth, that I 
will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, 
and that I will not take any thing that is thine, 
lest thou shouldest say, 'I have made Abram 



ABRAHAM'S GREAT REWARD 37 

rich.' Save only that which the young men have 
eaten, and the portion of the men which went 
with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take 
their portion." 

Genesis, 14 

For more about Melchizedek read: *'This Melchizedek^** 
Psalm 110 y and Hebrews , chaps. 5 and 6y verse 20, chap. 7, 
verses 1-^ 



ABRAHAM'S EXCEEDING GREAT 
REWARD 

After these things the word of the Lord came 
unto Abram in a vision, saying, "Fear not, 
Abram : I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great 
reward." 

And Abram said, "Lord God, what wilt thou 
give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of 
my house is this Eliezer of Damascus.?" And 
Abram said, "Behold, to me thou hast given 
no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine 
heir." 

And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto 
him, saying, "This shall not be thine heir; but 
thine own son shall be thine heir." 

And he brought him forth abroad, and said, 
"Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if 
thou be able to number them;" and he said unto 
him, "so shall thy seed be." 



38 BIBLE STORIES 

And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it 
to him for righteousness. 

Genesis, 15 



Read also ''By Faith" Hebrews, chap. 11; "Why Abram 
Was Called Abraham^' Genesis^ chap. 17 , verses 1-8 



"NAY, BUT THOU DIDST LAUGH" 

And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains 
of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat 
of the day. And he lift up his eyes and looked, 
and, lo, three men stood by him. And when he 
saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, 
and bowed himself toward the ground, and said, 
"My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy 
sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy serv- 
ant. Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, 
and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the 
tree. And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and com- 
fort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: 
for therefore are ye come to your servant." 

And they said, "So do, as thou hast said." 

And Abraham hastened into the tent unto 
Sarah, and said, "Make ready quickly three meas- 
ures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon 
the hearth." 

And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a 
calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young 



SODOM AND GOMORRAH 39 

man; and he hasted to dress it. And he took but- 
ter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, 
and set it before them; and he stood by them 
under the tree, and they did eat. 

And they said unto him, "Where is Sarah thy 
wife.?" And he said, "Behold, in the tent." And 
he said, "I will certainly return unto thee, and, 
lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son." 

And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was 
behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old 
and well stricken in age; therefore Sarah laughed 
within herself. 

; And the Lord said unto Abraham, " Wherefore 
did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I of a surety bear 
a child, which am old.?' Is anything too hard. for 
the Lord.? At the time appointed I will return 
unto thee, and Sarah shall have a son." 

Then Sarah denied, saying, "I laughed not;" 
for she was afraid. 

And he said, "Nay, but thou didst laugh." 

Genesis, 18 

THE CURSE OF SODOM AND 
GOMORRAH 

And the men rose up from thence, and looked 
toward Sodom : and Abraham went with them to 
bring them on the way. 

And the Lord said, "Shall I hide from Abra- 



40 BIBLE STORIES 

ham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham 
shall surely become a great and mighty nation, 
and all the nations of the earth, shall be blessed 
in him. For I know him, that he will command 
his children and his household after him, and they 
shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and 
judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abra- 
ham that which he hath spoken of him." 

And the Lord said, "Because the cry of Sodom 
and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is 
very grievous; I will go down now, and see 
whether they have done altogether according to 
the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, 
I will know." 

And the men turned their faces from thence, 
and went toward Sodom : but Abraham stood yet 
before the Lord. 

And Abraham drew near, and said, "Wilt thou 
also destroy the righteous with the wicked .^^ Per- 
adventure there be fifty righteous within the city : 
wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place 
for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be 
iar from thee to do after this manner, to slay the 
righteous with the wicked : and that the righteous 
should be as the wicked, that be far from thee. 
Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" 

And the Lord said, "If I find in Sodom fifty 
righteous within the city, then I will spare all the 
place for their sakes." 



SODOM AND GOMORRAH 41 

And Abraham answered and said, "Behold now, 
I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, 
which am but dust and ashes. Perad venture there 
shall lack five of the fifty righteous : wilt thou de- 
stroy all the city for lack of five?" And he said, 
"If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy 
it?" 

And he spake unto him yet again, and said, 
"Peradventure there shall be forty found there." 
And he said, "I will not do it for forty's sake." 

And he said unto him, "Oh let not the Lord be 
angry, and I will speak. Peradventure there shall 
thirty be found there." And he said, "I will not 
do it, if I find thirty there." 

And he said, "Behold now, I have taken upon 
me to speak unto the Lord. Peradventure there 
shall be twenty found there." And he said, "I 
will not destroy it for twenty's sake." 

And he said, "Oh let not the Lord be angry, 
and I will speak yet but this once. Peradventure 
ten shall be found there." And he said, "I will 
not destroy it for ten's sake." 

And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had 
left communing with Abraham : and Abraham re- 
tiu'ned unto his place. 

Genesis, 18 



42 BIBLE STORIES 

WHY LOT'S WIFE BECAME A PILLAR 
OF SALT 

And the two angels came to Sodom at even; and 
Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. And Lot seeing 
them rose up to meet them; and he bowed him- 
self with his face toward the ground. 

And he said, "Behold now, my lords, turn in, I 
pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all 
night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up 
early, and go on your ways." 

And they said, '*Nay; but we will abide in the 
street all night." 

And he pressed upon them greatly; and they 
turned in unto him, and entered into his house; 
and he made them a feast, and did bake unleav- 
ened bread, and they did eat. 

And the men said unto Lot, ''Hast thou here 
any besides.^ son in law, and thy sons, and thy 
daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, 
bring them out of this place. For we will destroy 
this place, because the cry of them is waxen great 
before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath 
sent us to destroy it." 

And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in 
law, which married his daughters, and said, "Up, 
get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy 
this city." But he seemed as one that mocked 
unto his sons in law. 



THE STORY OF LOT'S WIFE 43 

And when the morning arose, then the angels 
hastened Lot, saying, *' Arise, take thy wife, and 
thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be 
consumed in the iniquity of the city." 

And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon 
his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon 
the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being 
merciful unto him. And they brought him forth, 
and set him without the city. 

And it came to pass, when they had brought 
them forth abroad, that he said, "Escape for thy 
life ; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all 
the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be 
consumed." 

And Lot said unto them, "Oh, not so, my 
Lord. Behold now, thy servant hath found grace 
in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, 
which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my 
life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest 
some evil take me, and I die. Behold now, this 
city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one. Oh, 
let me escape thither, (is it not a little one.^^) and 
my soul shall live." 

And he said unto him, "See, I have accepted 
thee concerning this thing also, that I will not 
overthrow this city, for the which thou hast 
spoken. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot 
do anything till thou be come thither." There- 
fore the name of the city was called Zoar. 



44 BIBLE STORIES 

The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot 
entered into Zoar. 

Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon 
Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out 
of heaven. And he overthrew those cities, and all 
the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and 
that which grew upon the ground. 

But his wife looked back from behind him, and 
she became a pillar of salt. 

And Abraham gat up early in the morning to 
the place where he stood before the Lord. And 
he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and 
toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, 
lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke 
of a furnace. 

And it came to pass, when God destroyed the 
cities of the plain, that God remembered Abra- 
ham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the over- 
throw, when he overthrew the cities in the which 
Lot dwelt. 

Genesis, 19 

GOD WILL PROVIDE HIMSELF A LAMB 

And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and 
the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For 
Sarah bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the 
set time of which God had spoken to him. 
And Abraham called the name of his son that 



GOD WILL PROVIDE A LAMB 45 

was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, 
Isaac (Laughter). And the child grew. 

And it came to pass after these things, that God 
did prove Abraham, and said unto him, "Abra- 
ham:" and he said, "Behold, here I am." And he 
said, "Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, 
whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of 
Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering 
upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee 
of." 

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, 
and saddled his ass, and took two of his young 
men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave 
the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, 
and went unto the place of which God had told 
him. 

Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his 
eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham 
said unto his young men, " Abide ye here with the 
ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, 
and come again to you." 

And Abraham took the wood of the burnt 
offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he 
took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they 
went both of them together. 

And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and 
said, "My father: " and he said, "Here am I, my 
son." And he said, " Behold the fire and the wood : 
but where is the lamb for a burnt offering.? " And 



46 BIBLE STORIES 

Abraham said, " My son, God will provide him- 
self a lamb for a burnt offering:" so they went 
both of them together. 

And they came to the place which God had 
told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, 
and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his 
son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And 
Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the 
knife to slay his son. 

And the angel of the Lord called unto him out 
of heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham:" and 
he said, "Here am I." 

And he said, "Lay not thine hand upon the 
lad, neither do thou anything unto him : for now 
I know that thou f earest God, seeing thou hast not 
withheld thy son, thine only son from me." 

And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, 
and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket 
by his horns. And Abraham went and took the 
ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in 
the stead of his son. 

And Abraham called the name of that place 
Jehovah- jireh (that is Jehovah will see, or pro- 
vide) : as it is said to this day, " In the mount of 
the Lord it shall be seen." 

And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham 
out of heaven the second time, and said, "By 
myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because 
thou hast done this thing, and hast not with- 



THE SEARCH FOR ISAAC'S BRIDE 47 

held thy son, thine only son: that in blessing I 
will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply 
thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the 
sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed 
shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in thy 
seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 
because thou hast obeyed my voice." 

So Abraham returned unto his young men, and 
they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba; 
and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba, 

Genesis, 21, 22 

Read " The Little Ishmael Who Became an Archer," Genesis, 
chap. 16; and chap. 21, verses 9-20. Read also ''How Abra- 
fmm Bought the Cave of Machpelah,* chap. 23 



THE SEARCH FOR ISAAC'S BRIDE 

And Abraham was old, and well stricken in 
age: and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all 
things. 

And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of 
his house, that ruled over all that he had, **Put, I 
pray thee, thy hand under my thigh. And I will 
make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, 
and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not 
take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the 
Canaanites, among whom I dwell. But thou 
shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and 
take a wife unto my son Isaac." 



48 BIBLE STORIES 

And the servant said unto him, " Perad venture 
the woman will not be willing to follow me unto 
this land. Must I needs bring thy son again unto 
the land from whence thou camest?" 

And Abraham said unto him, "Beware thou 
that thou bring not my son thither again. 

"The Lord God of heaven, which took me from 
my father's house, and from the land of my kin- 
dred, and which spake unto me, and that sware 
unto me, saying, *Unto thy seed will I give this 
land,' he shall send his angel before thee, and thou 
shalt take a wife unto my son from thence. And 
if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, 
then thou shalt be clear from this my oath. Only 
bring not my son thither again." 

And the servant put his hand under the thigh 
of Abraham his master, and sware to him concern- 
ing that matter. 

And the servant took ten camels of the camels 
of his master, and departed; for all the goods of 
his master were in his hand. And he arose, and 
went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. 
And he made his camels to kneel down without 
the city by a well of water at the time of the eve- 
ning, even the time that women go out to draw 
water. 

And he said, "O Lord God of my master 
Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this 
day, and shew kindness unto my master Abra- 



THE SEARCH FOR ISAAC'S BRIDE 49 

ham. Behold, I stand here by the well of water; 
and the daughters of the men of the city come 
out to draw water. And let it come to pass, that 
the damsel to whom I shall say, 'Let down thy 
pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink;' and she 
shall say, * Drink, and I will give thy camels drink 
also : ' let the same be she that thou has appointed 
for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know 
that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master," 

And it came to pass, before he had done speak- 
ing, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was 
born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, 
Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her 
shoulder. And the damsel was very fair to look 
upon, and she went down to the well, and filled 
her pitcher, and came up. 

And the servant ran to meet her, and said, 
*'Let me, I pray thee> drink a little water of thy 
pitcher." 

And she said," Drink, my lord." And she hasted, 
and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave 
him drink. And when she had done giving him 
drink, she said, "I will draw water for thy camels 
also, until they have done drinking." 

And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into 
the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw 
water, and drew for all his camels. And the man 
wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether 
the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not. 



50 BIBLE STORIES 

And it came to pass, as the camels had done 
drinking, that the man took a golden earring of 
half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her 
hands of ten shekels weight of gold, and said, 
'* Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee. 
Is there room in thy father's house for us to 
lodge in?" 

And she said unto him, "I am the daughter of 
Bethuel, the son of Milcah, which she bare unto 
Nahor." She said moreover unto him, "We have 
both straw and provender enough, and room to 
lodge in." 

And the man bowed down his head, and wor- 
shipped the Lord. And he said, "Blessed be the 
Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not 
left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth. 
I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house 
of my master's brethren." 

And the damsel ran, and told them of her 
mother's house these things. 

And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was 
Laban. And Laban ran out unto the man, unto 
the well. And it came to pass, when he saw the 
earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and 
when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, 
saying, " Thus spake the man unto me;" that he 
came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the 
camels at the well. And he said, " Come in, thou 
blessed of the Lord. Wherefore standest thou 



THE SEARCH FOR ISAAC'S BRIDE 51 

without? for I have prepared the house, and room 
for the camels." 

And the man came into the house: and he un- 
girded his camels, and gave straw and provender 
for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and 
the men's feet that were with him. And there was 
set meat before him to eat: but he said, *'I will 
not eat, until I have told mine errand." And he 
said, "Speak on." 

And he said, " I am Abraham's servant. And 
the Lord hath blessed my master greatly; and he 
is become great: and he hath given him flocks, 
and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, 
and maidservants, and camels, and asses. 

"And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my 
master when she was old. And unto him hath he 
given all that he hath. And my master made me 
swear, saying, *Thou shalt not take a wife to my 
son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose 
land I dwell. But thou shalt go unto my father's 
house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto 
my son.' 

"And I said unto my master, 'Perad venture the 
woman will not follow me.' And he said unto me, 
*The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his 
angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou 
shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of 
my father's house. Then shalt thou be clear from 
this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; 



52 BIBLE STORIES 

and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear 
from my oath.' 

"And I came this day unto the well, and said, 
*0 Lord God of my master Abraham, if now thou 
do prosper my way which I go: behold, I stand 
by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, 
that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, 
and I say to her, "Give me, I pray thee, a little 
water of thy pitcher to drink : " and she say to me, 
"Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy 
camels:" let the same be the woman whom the 
Lord hath appointed out for my master's son.' 

"And before I had done speaking in mine heart, 
behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on 
her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, 
and drew water: and I said, unto her, *Let me 
drink, I pray thee.' And she made haste, and let 
down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, 
'Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also.' 
So I drank, and she made the camels drink also. 

"And I asked her, and said, * Whose daughter 
art thou.^' And she said, *The daughter of 
Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto 
him.' And I put the earring upon her face, and 
the bracelets upon her hands. 

"And I bowed down my head, and worshipped 
the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master 
Abraham, which had led me in the right way to 
take my master's brother's daughter unto his son. 



THE SEARCH FOR ISAAC'S BRIDE 53 

"And now if ye will deal kindly and truly 
with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; 
that I may turn to the right hand, or to the 
left." 

Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, 
"The thing proceedeth from the Lord. We can- 
not speak unto thee bad or good. Behold, Re- 
bekah is before thee, take her, and gOj and let 
her be thy master's son's wife, as the Lord hath 
spoken." 

And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's 
servant heard their words, he worshipped the 
Lord, bowing himself to the earth. 

And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, 
and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them 
to Rebekah. He gave also to her brother and to 
her mother precious things. And they did eat and 
drink, he and the men that were with him, and 
tarried all night. 

And they rose up in the morning, and he said, 
"Send me away unto my master." 

And her brother and her mother said, "Let the 
damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; 
after that she shall go." 

And he said unto them, "Hinder me not, seeing 
the Lord hath prospered my way; send me away 
that I may go to my master." 

And they said, "We will call the damsel, and 
inquire at her mouth." And they called Rebekah, 



54 BIBLE STORIES 

and said unto her, "Wilt thou go with this man? " 
And she said, **I will go." 

And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and 
her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men. 
And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, 
**Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thou- 
sands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate 
of those which hate them." 

And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they 
rode upon the camels, and followed the man. And 
the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. 

And Isaac came from the way of the well 
Lahai-roi; for he dwelt in the south country. 
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at 
the eventide. And he lifted up his eyes, and 
saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. 

And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she 
saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For she had 
said unto the servant, ''What man is this that 
walketh in the field to meet us.^ " And the servant 
had said, "It is my master." Therefore she took 
a vail, and covered herself. 

And the servant told Isaac all things that he 
had done. And Isaac brought her into his mother 
Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became 
his wife; and he loved her. And Isaac was com- 
forted after his mother's death. 

Genesis, 24 



^acol) (m^BaaJ^aafeSoas 



He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the 
knowledge of the Most High, which saw the vision of the Al- 
mighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: 

"Z shall see him, hut not now: I shall behold him, but not 
nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall 
rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and 
destroy all the children of Sheth." 

Numbers, 24 



HOW ESAU THE ELDER BROTHER 
DESPISED HIS BIRTHRIGHT 

ND the boys grew. And Esau was a cun- 
ning hunter, a man of the field; and 
Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in 
tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did 
eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. 
And Jacob sod pottage. And Esau came 
from the field, and he was faint. And Esau said to 
Jacob, "Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red 
pottage; for I am faint: " therefore was his name 
called Edom (meaning Red) . 

And Jacob said, **Sell me this day thy birth- 
right." 

And Esau said, ** Behold, I am at the point 
to die: and what profit shall this birthright do 
to me? '* 

And Jacob said, ** Swear to me this day; " and 
he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto 
Jacob. 

Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of 
lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, 
and went his way: thus Esau despised his birth- 
right. 

And Esau was forty years old when he took to 
wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and 



58 BIBLE STORIES 

Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: 
which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to 
Rebekah. Genesis, 25, 26 



THE STOLEN BLESSING 

And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, 
and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he 
called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, ''My 
son: " and he said unto him, "Behold, here am I." 

And he said, *' Behold now, I am old, I know 
not the day of my death. Now therefore take, I 
pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, 
and go out to the field, and take me some venison. 
And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and 
bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may 
bless thee before I die." 

And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau 
his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for 
venison, and to bring it. 

And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, 
''Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy 
brother, saying, ' Bring me venison, and make me 
savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee be- 
fore the Lord before my death.' Now therefore, 
my son, obey my voice according to that which I 
command thee. Go now to the flock, and fetch 
me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I 
will make them savoury meat for thy father, such 



THE STOLEN BLESSING 59 

as he loveth. And thou shall bring it to thy father, 
that he may eat, and that he may bless thee be- 
fore his death." 

And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, "Be- 
hold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am 
a smooth man. My father peradventure will feel 
me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I 
shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing." 

And his mother said unto him, " Upon me be 
thy curse, my son. Only obey my voice, and go 
fetch me them." 

And he went, and fetched, and brought them to 
his mother. And his mother made savoury meat, 
such as his father loved. 

And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest 
son Esau, which were with her in the house, and 
put them upon Jacob her younger son. And she 
put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his 
hands, and upon the smooth of his neck. And she 
gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she 
had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. 

And he came unto his father, and said, "My 
father:" and he said, "Here am I; who art thou, 
my son.f^" 

And Jacob said unto his father, "I am Esau thy 
firstborn. I have done according as thou badest 
me. Arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, 
that thy soul may bless me." 

And Isaac said unto his son, "How is it that 



60 BIBLE STORIES 

thou hast found it so quickly, my son?" And he 
said, ** Because the Lord thy God brought it to 
me. 

And Isaac said unto Jacob, "Come near, I 
pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether 
thou be my very son Esau or not." And Jacob 
went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, 
and said, "The voice is Jacob's voice, but the 
hands are the hands of Esau." And he discerned 
him not, because his hands were hairy, as his 
brother Esau's hands : so he blessed him. 

And he said, "Art thou my very son Esau.?" 
And he said, "I am." And he said, "Bring it near 
to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my 
soul may bless thee." And he brought it near to 
him, and he did eat. And he brought him wine, 
and he drank. 

And his father Isaac said unto him, "Come 
near now, and kiss me, my son." And he came 
near, and kissed him : and he smelled the smell of 
his raiment, and blessed him, and said, "See, the 
smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the 
Lord hath blessed. Therefore God give thee of 
the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, 
and plenty of corn and wine. Let people serve 
thee, and nations bow down to thee. Be lord over 
thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down 
to thee. Cursed be every one that curseth thee, 
and blessed be he that blesseth thee." 



THE STOLEN BLESSING 61 

And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made 
an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce 
gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that 
Esau his brother came in from his hunting. And 
he also had made savoury meat, and brought it 
unto his father, and said unto his father, "Let my 
father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy 
soul may bless me." 

And Isaac his father said unto him, "Who art 
thou?" And he said, "I am thy son, thy firstborn 
Esau." 

And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, 
"Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and 
brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou 
camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall 
be blessed." 

And when Esau heard the words of his father, 
he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, 
and said unto his father, "Bless me, even me also, 
O my father." 

And he said, "Thy brother came with subtilty, 
and hath taken away thy blessing." 

And he said, "Is not he rightly named Jacob 
(one that supplants) ? for he hath supplanted me 
these two times. He took away my birthright; 
and, behold, now he hath taken away my bless- 
ing." And he said, "Hast thou not reserved a 
blessing for me?" 

And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, "Be- 



62 BIBLE STORIES 

hold, I have made him thy lord, and all his breth- 
ren have I given to him for servants; and with 
corn and wine have I sustained him. And what 
shall I do now unto thee, my son?" 

And Esau said unto his father, "Hast thou but 
one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, 
O my father." And Esau lifted up his voice, and 
wept. 

And Isaac his father answered and said unto 
him, " Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of 
the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above. 
And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve 
thy brother. And it shall come to pass when thou 
shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his 
yoke from off thy neck." 

And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing 
wherewith his father blessed him. And Esau 
said in his heart, ''The days of mourning for my 
father are at hand; then will I slay my brother 
Jacob." 

And these words of Esau her elder son were told 
to Rebekah. And she sent and called Jacob her 
younger son, and said unto him, ''Behold, thy 
brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort him- 
self, purposing to kill thee. Now therefore, my 
son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban 
my brother to Haran, and tarry with him a few 
days, until thy brother's fury turn away; until 
thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he 



THE VISION OF JACOB'S LADDER 63 

forget that which thou hast done to him. Then 
I will send, and fetch thee from thence. Why 
should I be deprived also of you both in one 
day?" 

Genesis, 27 



THE VISION OF JACOB'S LADDER 

And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went 
toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain 
place, and tarried there all night, because the sun 
was set. And he took of the stones of that place, 
and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that 
place to sleep. 

And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on 
the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: 
and behold the angels of God ascending and de- 
scending on it. 

And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, 
"I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and 
the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to 
thee will I give it, and to thy seed. And thy seed 
shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt 
spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to 
the north, and to the south: and in thee and in 
thy seed shall all the families of the earth be 
blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will 
keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and 
will bring thee again into this land; for I will 



64 BIBLE STOEEES 

not leave thee, until I have done that which I 
have spoken to thee of." 

And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, 
"Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it 
not." And he was afraid, and said, ''How dread- 
ful is this place ! this is none other but the house 
of God, and this is the gate of heaven." 

And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and 
took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and 
set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top 
of it. And he called the name of that place Beth-el 
(that is the House of God) : but the name of that 
city was called Luz at the first. 

And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, "If God will 
be with me, and will keep me in this way that I 
go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment 
to put on, so that I come again to my father's 
house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God, 
and this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall 
he God's house. And of all that thou shalt give 
me I will surely give the tenth unto thee." 

Genesis, 28 

For more about Jacob, read "How Jacob Obeyed,'' Genesis, 
chap. 28, verses 1-10; ''Hoio Jacob Won Rachel,'' chap, 29; 
"How Jacob Met Esau," chap. 32, verses 1-23 and chap. 33; 
** Why Jacob Was Called Israel," chap. 32, verses 24.-32; "How 
Jacob Destroyed the Idols" chap. 35, verses 1-15 



iarob'5 fork ims 



Joseph is a fruitful hough, even a fruitful hough hy a well; 
whose hranches run over the wall. The archers have sorely 
grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him. But his bow abode 
in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the 
hands of the mighty God of Jacob; {from thence is the shepherd, 
the stone of Israel.) 

Genesis, 49 




JOSEPH'S DREAMS 

[osEPH, being seventeen years old, was 
feeding the flock with his brethren; and 
the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, 
and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's 
wives: and Joseph brought unto his father 
their evil report. 
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his 
children, because he was the son of his old age: 
and he made him a coat of many colours. And 
when his brethren saw that their father loved 
him more than all his brethren, they hated him, 
and could not speak peaceably unto him. 

And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it 
his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. 
And he said unto them, ''Hear, I pray you, this 
dream which I have dreamed. For, behold, we 
were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf 
arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your 
sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance 
to my sheaf." 

And his brethren said to him, " Shalt thou in- 
deed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have do- 
minion over us?" And they hated him yet the 
more for his dreams, and for his words. 

And he dreamed yet another dream, and told 
it his brethren, and said, "Behold, I have dreamed 



68 BIBLE STORIES 

a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon 
and the eleven stars made obeisance to me." And 
he told it to his father, and to his brethren. 

And his father rebuked him, and said unto him, 
"What is this dream that thou hast dreamed .f^ 
Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed 
come to bow down ourselves to thee to the 
earth?" 

And his brethren envied him; but his father 
observed the saying. 

Genesis, 37 

HOW JOSEPH WAS SOLD INTO EGYPT 

And his brethren went to feed their father's 
flock in Shechem. And Israel said unto Joseph, 
"Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? 
come, and I will send thee unto them." And he 
said to him, "Here am I." 

And he said to him, "Go, I pray thee, see 
whether it be well with thy brethren, and well 
with the flocks; and bring me word again." So he 
sent him out of the vale of Hebron. And Joseph 
went after his brethren, and found them in Do- 
than. 

And when they saw him afar off, even before he 
came near unto them, they conspired against him 
to slay him. And they said one to another, "Be- 
hold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore. 



JOSEPH SOLD INTO EGYPT 69 

and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, 
and we will say, * Some evil beast hath devoured 
him.' And we shall see what will become of his 
dreams." 

And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out 
of their hands; and said, "Let us not kill him. 
Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in 
the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him;" that 
he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver 
him to his father again. 

And it came to pass, when Joseph was come 
imto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out 
of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on 
him. And they took him, and cast him into a 
pit. And the pit was empty, there was no water 
in it. 

And they sat down to eat bread. And they 
lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a 
company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with 
their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, 
going to carry it down to Egypt. And Judah said 
unto his brethren, "What profit is it if we slay 
our brother, and conceal his blood .^^ Come, and 
let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our 
hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our 
flesh." And his brethren were content. 

Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; 
and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, 
and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty 



70 BIBLE STORIES 

pieces of silver. And they brought Joseph into 
Egypt. 

And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, 
Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. 
And he returned unto his brethren, and said, 
"The child is not; and I, whither shall I go.^" 

And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid 
of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood. 
And they sent the coat of many colours, and they 
brought it to their father; and said, "This have 
we found. Know now whether it be thy son's 
coat or no." 

And he knew it, and said, "It is my son's coat. 
An evil beast hath devoured him. Joseph is with- 
out doubt rent in pieces." 

And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth 
upon his loins, and mourned for his son many 
days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose 
up to comfort him; but he refused to be com- 
forted; and he said, "For I will go down into the 
grave unto my son mourning." Thus his father 
wept for him. 

And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto 
Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of 
the guard. 

Genesis, 37 



PHARAOH'S BUTLER AND BAKER 71 

HOW PHARAOH'S BUTLER AND 
PHARAOH'S BAKER DREAMED DREAMS 

And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and 
Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the 
guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of 
the Ishmaehtes, which had brought him down 
thither. . ' 

And Joseph's master took him, and put him 
into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners 
were bound: and he was there in the prison. 

But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him 
mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the 
keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison 
committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that 
were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, 
he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison 
looked not to anything that was under his hand; 
because the Lord was with him, and that which 
he did, the Lord made it to prosper. 

And it came to pass after these things, that the 
butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had 
offended their lord the king of Egypt. And Pha- 
raoh was wroth against two of his officers, against 
the chief of the butlers, and against the chief 
of the bakers. And he put them in ward in the 
house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, 
the place where Joseph was bound. And the 



72 BIBLE STORIES 

captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, 
and he served them. And they continued a season 
in ward. 

And they dreamed a dream both of them, each 
man his dream in one night, each man according 
to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and 
the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound 
in the prison. 

And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, 
and looked upon them, and, behold, they were 
sad. And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were 
with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, 
"Wherefore look ye so sadly to day.^^" 
■ And they said unto him, "We have dreamed a 
dream, and there is no interpreter of it." 

And Joseph said unto them, "Do not inter- 
pretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray 
you." 

And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, 
and said to him, "In my dream, behold, a vine 
was before me. And in the vine were three 
branches. And it was as though it budded, and 
her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof 
brought forth ripe grapes. And Pharaoh's cup 
was in my hand. And I took the grapes, and 
pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the 
cup into Pharaoh's hand." 

And Joseph said unto him, "This is the inter- 
pretation of it. The three branches are three days. 



PHARAOH'S BUTLER AND BAKER 73 

Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine 
head, and restore thee unto thy place. And thou 
shalt deliver Pharoah's cup into his hand, after 
the former manner when thou wast his butler. 

"But think on me when it shall be well with 
thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and 
make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me 
out of this house. For indeed I was stolen away 
out of the land of the Hebrews. And here also 
have I done nothing that they should put me into 
the dungeon." 

When the chief baker saw that the interpreta- 
tion was good, he said unto Joseph, "I also was in 
my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets 
on my head. And in the uppermost basket there 
was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and 
the birds did eat them out of the basket upon 
my head." 

And Joseph answered and said, "This is the 
interpretation thereof. The three baskets are 
three days. Yet within three days shall Pharaoh 
lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee 
on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from 
off thee." 

And it came to pass the third day, which was 
Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all 
his servants. And he lifted up the head of the 
chief butler and of the chief baker among his serv- 
ants. And he restored the chief butler unto his 



74 BIBLE STORIES 

butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pha- 
raoh's hand. But he hanged the chief baker; as 
Joseph had interpreted to them. 

Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, 
but forgat him. 

Genesis, 39, 40 



HOW PHARAOH DREAMED A DREAM 

And it came to pass at the end of two full years, 
that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by 
the river. And, behold, there came up out of the 
river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and 
they fed in a meadow. And, behold, seven other 
kine came up after them out of the river, ill fav- 
oured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other 
kine upon the brink of the river. And the ill 
favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the 
seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh 
awoke. 

And he slept and dreamed the second time. And, 
behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, 
rank and good. And, behold, seven thin ears and 
blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. 
And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank 
and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, 
it was a dream. 

And it came to pass in the morning that his 
spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all 



PHARAOH DREAMED A DREAM 75 

the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men 
thereof. And Pharaoh told them his dream; but 
there was none that could interpret them unto 
Pharaoh. 

Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, say- 
ing, "I do remember my faults this day. Pharaoh 
was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward 
in the captain of the guard's house, both me and 
the chief baker. And we dreamed a dream in one 
night, I and he; we dreamed each man according 
to the interpretation of his dream. And there was 
there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to 
the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he 
interpreted to us our dreams ; to each man accord- 
ing to his dream he did interpret. And it came to 
pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he re- 
stored unto mine office, and him he hanged." 

Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they 
brought him hastily out of the dungeon. And he 
shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and 
came in unto Pharaoh. 

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, "I have 
dreamed a dream, and there is none that can in- 
terpret it. And I have heard say of thee, that 
thou canst understand a dream to interpret it." 

And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, "It is 
not in me. God shall give Pharaoh an answer of 
peace." 

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, "In my dream. 



76 BIBLE STORIES 

behold, I stood upon the bank of the river. And, 
behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, 
fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a 
meadow. And, behold, seven other kine came up 
after them, poor and very ill favoured and lean- 
fleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of 
Egypt for badness. And the lean and the ill fa- 
voured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine. 
And when they had eaten them up, it could not be 
known that they had eaten them; but they were 
still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke. 

"And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven 
ears came up in one stalk, full and good. And, be- 
hold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with 
the east wind, sprung up after them. And the 
thin ears devoured the seven good ears. And I 
told this unto the magicians; but there was none 
that could declare it to me." 

And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, "The dream 
of Pharaoh is one. God hath shewed Pharaoh what 
he is about to do. The seven good kine are seven 
years; and the seven good ears are seven years: 
the dream is one. And the seven thin and ill fa- 
voured kine that came up after them are seven 
years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the 
east wind shall be seven years of famine. 

"This is the thing which I have spoken unto 
Pharaoh. What God is about to do he sheweth 
unto Pharaoh. Behold, there come seven years 




JOSEfH BEFORE PHARAOH 



THE MIGHTY RULER OF EGYPT 77 

of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. 
And there shall arise after them seven years of 
famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten 
in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall con- 
sume the land; and the plenty shall not be known 
in the land by reason of that famine following; 
for it shall be very grievous. 

"And for that the dream was doubled unto 
Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is estab- 
lished by God, and God will shortly bring it to 
pass. 

"Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man 
discreet and wise, and set him over the land of 
Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint 
officers over the land, and take up the fifth part 
of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. 
And let them gather all the food of those good 
years that come, and lay up corn under the hand 
of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. 
And that food shall be for store to the land against 
the seven years of famine, which shall be in the 
land of Egypt; that the land perish not through 
the famine." Genesis, 41 

THE MIGHTY RULER OF EGYPT 

And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, 
and in the eyes of all his servants. 
And Pharaoh said unto his servants, "Can we 



78 BIBLE STORIES 

find such a one as this is, a man in whom the 
Spirit of God is?" 

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, "Forasmuch 
as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so 
discreet and wise as thou art. Thou shalt be over 
my house, and according unto thy word shall all 
my people be ruled. Only in the throne will I 
be greater than thou." And Pharaoh said unto 
Joseph, "See, I have set thee over all the land of 
Egypt." 

And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, 
and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him 
in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain 
about his neck. And he made him to ride in the 
second chariot which he had. And they cried be- 
fore him, "Bow the knee:" and he made him 
ruler over all the land of Egypt. 

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, 
and without thee shall no man lift up his hand 
or foot in all the land of Egypt." And Pharaoh 
gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti- 
pherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over 
all the land of Egypt. 

And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood 
before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went 
out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went 
throughout all the land of Egypt. 

And in the seven plenteous years the earth 
brought forth by handfuls. And he gathered up 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 79 

all the food of the seven years, which were in the 
land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities. 
The food of the field, which was round about every 
city, laid he up in the same. And Joseph gathered 
corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he 
left numbering; for it was without number. 

And the seven years of plenteousness, that was 
in the land of Egypt, were ended. And the seven 
years of dearth began to come, according as 
Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; 
but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. And 
when all the land of Egypt was famished, the 
people cried to Pharaoh for bread. And Pharaoh 
said unto all the Egyptians, "Go unto Joseph; 
what he saith to you, do." 

And the famine was over all the face of the 
earth. And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and 
sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed 
sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came 
into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because 
that the famine was so sore in all lands. 

Genesis, 41 

HIS BRETHREN BOW DOWN TO 
JOSEPH 

Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in 
Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, "Why do ye look 
one upon another.^ Behold, I have heard that 



80 BIBLE STORIES 

there is corn in Egypt. Get you down thither, 
and buy for us from thence; that we may Hve, and 
not die." 

And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy 
corn in Egypt. But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, 
Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, 
"Lest peradventure mischief befall him." 

And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among 
those that came: for the famine was in the land 
of Canaan. And Joseph was the governor over 
the land, and he it was that sold to all the people 
of the land. And Joseph's brethren came, and 
bowed down themselves before him with their 
faces to the earth. 

And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew 
them, but made himself strange unto them, and 
spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, 
"Whence come ye?" And they said, "From the 
land of Canaan to buy food." 

And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew 
not him. And Joseph remembered the dreams 
which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, 
"Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye 
are come." 

And they said unto him, "Nay, my lord, but to 
buy food are thy servants come. We are all one 
man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no 
spies." 

And he said unto them, "Nay, but to see the 
nakedness of the land ye are come." 



JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN 81 

And they said, "Thy servants are twelve 
brethren, the sons of one man in the land of 
Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day 
with our father, and one is not." 

And Joseph said unto them, "That is it that I 
spake unto you, saying, *Ye are spies.' Hereby 
ye shall be proved. By the life of Pharaoh ye 
shall not go forth hence, except your youngest 
brother come hither. Send one of you, and let him 
fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, 
that your words may be proved, whether there be 
any truth in you. Or else by the life of Pharaoh 
surely ye are spies." 

And he put them all together into ward three 
days. 

And Joseph said unto them the third day, 
"This do, and live; for I fear God. If ye be true 
men, let one of your brethren be bound in the 
house of your prison. Go ye, carry corn for the 
famine of your houses. But bring your youngest 
brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, 
and ye shall not die." And they did so. 

And they said one to another, "We are verily 
guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the 
anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we 
would not hear; therefore is this distress come 
upon us." 

And Reuben answered them saying, "Spake I 
not unto you, saying, 'Do not sin against the 



82 BIBLE STORIES 

child;' and ye would not hear? therefore, be- 
hold, also his blood is required." 

And they knew not that Joseph understood 
them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter. 
And he turned himself about from them, and 
wept; and returned to them again, and communed 
with them, and took from them Simeon, and 
bound him before their eyes. 

Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks 
with corn, and to restore every man's money into 
his sack, and to give them provision for the way : 
and thus did he unto them. And they laded their 
asses with the corn, and departed thence. 

And as one of them opened his sack to give his 
ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; 
for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth. And he 
said unto his brethren, "My money is restored; 
and, lo, it is even in my sack." And their heart 
failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to 
another, "What is this that God hath done unto 
us.?" 

Genesis, 42 



THE STRANGE MONEY IN THE 
MOUTHS OF THE SACKS 

And they came unto Jacob their father unto 
the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell 
unto them; saying: — 



THE MONEY IN THE SACKS 83 

"The man, who is the lord of the land, spake 
roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country; 
and we said unto him, ' We are true men; we are 
no spies. We be twelve brethren, sons of our 
father; one is not, and the youngest is this day 
with our father in the land of Canaan.' And the 
man, the lord of the country, said unto us, ' Here- 
by shall I know that ye are true men; leave one 
of your brethren here with me, and take food for 
the famine of your households, and be gone. And 
bring your youngest brother unto me : then shall I 
know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true 
men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye 
shall traflSck in the land.'" 

And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, 
that, behold, every man's bundle of money was 
in his sack. And when both they and their father 
saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. 

And Jacob their father said unto them, "Me 
have ye bereaved of my children. Joseph is not, 
and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin 
away. All these things are against me." 

And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, 
"Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee. 
Deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to 
thee again." 

And he said, "My son shall not go down with 
you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone. 
If mischief befall him by the way in the which ye 



84 BIBLE STORIES 

go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with 
sorrow to the grave." 

And the famine was sore in the land. And it 
came to pass/ when they had eaten up the corn 
which they had brought out of Egypt, their father 
said unto them, "Go again, buy us a little food." 

And Judah spake unto him, saying, "The man 
did solemnly protest unto us, saying, * Ye shall not 
see my face, except your brother be with you.' 
If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go 
down and buy thee food. But if thou wilt not 
send him, we will not go down: for the man said 
unto us, 'Ye shall not see my face, except your 
brother be with you.'" 

And Israel said, "Wherefore dealt ye so ill with 
me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a 
brother.?" 

And they said, "The man asked us straitly of 
our state, and of our kindred, saying, *Is your 
father yet alive .^^ have ye another brother.?' and 
we told him according to the tenor of these words. 
Could we certainly know that he would say, 'Bring 
your brother down' ? " 

And Judah said unto Israel his father, "Send 
the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we 
may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also 
our little ones. I will be surety for him; of my 
hand shalt thou require him. If I bring him not 
unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me 



BENJAMIN GOES INTO EGYPT 85 

bear the blame for ever. For except we had 
lingered, surely now we had returned this second 
time." 

And their father Israel said unto them, "If it 
must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in 
the land in your vessels, and carry down the man 
a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, 
and myrrh, nuts, and almonds. And take double 
money in your hand. And the money that was 
brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry 
it again in your hand; peradventure it was an 
oversight. Take also your brother, and arise, go 
again unto the man. And God Almighty give you 
mercy before the man, that he may send away 
your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be be- 
reaved of my children, I am bereaved." 

Genesis, 42, 43 

HOW BENJAMIN WENT DOWN INTO 
EGYPT 

And the men took that present, and they took 
double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and 
rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood be- 
fore Joseph. 

And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he 
said to the ruler of his house, "Bring these men 
home, and slay, and make ready; for these men 
shall dine with me at noon." 



86 BIBLE STORIES 

And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man 
brought the men into Joseph's house. And the 
men were afraid, because they were brought into 
Joseph's house; and they said, "Because of the 
money that was returned in our sacks at the first 
time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion 
against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bond- 
men, and our asses." 

And they came near to the steward of Joseph's 
house, and they communed with him at the door 
of the house, and said, "O sir, we came indeed 
down at the first time to buy food. And it came 
to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened 
our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in 
the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight : 
and we have brought it again in our hand. And 
other money have we brought down in our hands 
to buy food. We cannot tell who put our money 
in our sacks." 

And he said, "Peace be to you, fear not: your 
God, and the God of your father, hath given you 
treasure in your sacks. I had your money." And 
he brought Simeon out unto them. 

And the man brought the men into Joseph's 
house, and gave them water, and they washed 
their feet; and he gave their asses provender. And 
they made ready the present against Joseph came 
at noon: for they heard that they should eat 
bread there. 



BENJAMIN GOES INTO EGYPT 87 

And when Joseph came home, they brought him 
the present which was in their hand into the house, 
and bowed themselves to him to the earth. 

And he asked them of their welfare, and said, 
"Is your father well, the old man of whom ye 
spake ? Is he yet alive ?" 

And they answered, "Thy servant our father is 
in good health, he is yet alive." And they bowed 
down their heads, and made obeisance. 

And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother 
Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, "Is this 
your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto 
me? " And he said, "God be gracious unto thee, 
my son." 

And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did 
yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to 
weep ; and he entered into his chamber, and wept 
there. And he washed his face, and went out, and 
refrained himself, and said, "Set on bread." 

And they set on for him by himself, and for 
them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which 
did eat with him, by themselves: because the 
Egyptians might not eat bread with the He- 
brews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyp- 
tians. 

And they sat before him, the firstborn accord- 
ing to his birthright, and the youngest according 
to his youth: and the men marvelled one at 
another. And he took and sent messes unto them 



88 BIBLE STOMES 

from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five 
times so much as any of their's. And they drank, 
and were merry with him. 

Genesis, 43 



THE SILVER CUP IN THE CORN 

And he commanded the steward of his house, 
saying, ^'Fill the men's sacks with food, as much 
as they can carry, and put every man's money in 
his sack's mouth. And put my cup, the silver cup, 
in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn 
money." And he did according to the word that 
Joseph had spoken. 

As soon as the morning was light, the men were 
sent away, they and their asses. And when they 
were gone out of the city, and not yet far ojff, 
Joseph said unto his steward, "Up, follow after 
the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say 
unto them, * Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for 
good.^ Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, 
and whereby indeed he divineth.'^ ye have done 
evil in so doing.' " 

And he overtook them, and he spake unto them 
these same words. 

And they said unto him, "Wherefore saith my 
lord these words? God forbid that thy servants 
should do according to this thing. Behold, the 
money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we 



THE SILVER CUP IN THE CORN 89 

brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan. 
How then should we steal out of thy lord's house 
silver or gold? With whomsoever of thy servants 
it be found, both let him die, and we also will be 
my lord's bondmen.'* 

And he said, ** Now also let it be according unto 
your words. He with whom it is found shall be 
my servant; and ye shall be blameless." 

Then they speedily took down every man his 
sack to the ground, and opened every man his 
sack. And he searched, and began at the eldest, 
and left at the youngest: and the cup was found 
in Benjamin's sack. 

Then they rent their clothes, and laded every 
man his ass, and returned to the city. And Judah 
and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he 
was yet there: and they fell before him on the 
ground. 

And Joseph said unto them, "What deed is 
this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a 
man as I can certainly divine?" 

And Judah said, "What shall we say unto my 
lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear 
ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of 
thy servants. Behold, we are my lord's servants, 
both we, and he also with whom the cup is 
found." 

And he said, "God forbid that I should do so. 
But the man in whose hand the cup is found, he 



90 BIBLE STORIES 

shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up 
in peace unto your father." 

Then Judah came near unto him, and said, "Oh 
my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word 
in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn 
against thy servant : for thou art even as Pharaoh. 

"My lord asked his servants, saying, ' Have ye 
a father, or a brother .^^ ' And we said unto my lord, 
*We have a father, an old man, and a child of his 
old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and 
he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth 
him.' And thou saidst unto thy servants, 'Bring 
him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon 
him.' And we said unto my lord, 'The lad cannot 
leave his father : for if he should leave his father, 
his father would die.' And thou saidst unto thy 
servants, 'Except your youngest brother come 
down with you, ye shall see my face no more.' 

" And it came to pass when we came up unto 
thy servant my father, we told him the words of 
my lord. And our father said, 'Go again, and buy 
us a little food.' And we said, ' We cannot go down. 
If our youngest brother be with us, then will we go 
down: for we may not see the man's face, except 
our youngest brother be with us.' 

"And thy servant my father said unto us, 'Ye 
know that my wife bare me two sons. And the 
one went out from me, and I said. Surely he is 
torn in pieces; and I saw him not since. And if ye 



**I AM JOSEPH" 91 

take this also from me, and mischief befall him, 
ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to 
the grave.' 

"Now therefore when I come to thy servant 
my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that 
his life is bound up in the lad's life; it shall come 
to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, 
that he will die : and thy servants shall bring down 
the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sor- 
row to the grave. For thy servant became surety 
for the lad unto my father, saying, ' If I bring him 
not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to 
my father for ever.' 

"Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant 
abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; 
and let the lad go up with his brethren. For how 
shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with 
me.^^ lest perad venture I see the evil that shall 
come on my father." 

Genesis, 44 

"I AM JOSEPH YOUR BROTHER WHOM 
YOU SOLD INTO EGYPT" 

Then Joseph could not refrain himself before 
all them that stood by him; and he cried, "Cause 
every man to go out from me." And there stood 
no man with him, while Joseph made himself 
known unto his brethren. 



92 BIBLE STORIES 

And he wept aloud : and the Egyptians and the 
house of Pharaoh heard. 

And Josepji said unto his brethren, "I am 
Joseph. Doth my father yet live?" And his 
brethren could not answer him; for they were 
troubled at his presence. 

And Joseph said unto his brethren, "Come 
near to me, I pray you." And they came near. 
And he said, "I am Joseph your brother, whom 
ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, 
nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither; 
for God did send me before you to preserve life. 
For these two years hath the famine been in the 
land: and yet there are ^ve years, in the which 
there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And 
God sent me before you to preserve you a poster- 
ity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great 
deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me 
hither, but God : and he hath made me a father to 
Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler 
throughout all the land of Egypt. 

"Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say 
unto him, *Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath 
made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, 
tarry not. And thou shalt dwell in the land of 
Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and 
thy children, and thy children's children, and 
thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast. 
And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are 



"I AM JOSEPH" 93 

five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, 
and all that thou hast, come to poverty.' 

"And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my 
brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speak- 
eth unto you. And ye shall tell my father of all 
my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; 
and ye shall haste and bring down my father 
hither." 

And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, 
and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 
Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept 
upon them: and after that his brethren talked 
with him. 

Genesis, 45 

Read also *'How Jacob Met Pharaoh," Genesis, chap. ^5, 
verses 16-28, also chaps. 46 and^?. Read too, " Why Joseph's 
Ten Brothers Were Afraid,'' Genesis, chap. 50; and ''Moses* 
Blessing," Deuteronomy, chap. 33, verses 12-17 



!k%tjpttaii^m%t 



And the Lord said unto Abram, *'Know of a surety that thy 
seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not their s, and shall 
serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years. 

''And also that nation, whom they shall serve, loill I judge: 
and afterward shall they come out unth great substance. 

''And thou shall go to thy fathers in 'peace; thou shall be 
buried in a good old age. 

"But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: 
for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.'' 

Genesis, 15 



THE HOUSE OF BONDAGE 



ND Joseph died, and all his brethren, 
and all that generation. 
And the children of Israel were fruit- 
ful, and increased abundantly, and multi- 
plied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the 
land was filled with them. 
Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, 
which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his 
people, "Behold, the people of the children of 
Israel are more and mightier than we. Come on, 
let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, 
and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out 
any war, they join also unto our enemies, and 
fight against us, and so get them up out of the 
land." 

Therefore they did set over them taskmasters 
to afflict them with their burdens. And they 
built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and 
Raamses. 

But the more they afflicted them, the more they 
multiplied and grew. And they were grieved be- 
cause of the children of Israel. And the Egyp- 
tians made the children of Israel to serve with 
rigour: and they made their lives bitter with 
hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all 



98 BIBLE STORIES 

manner of service in the field: all their service, 
wherein they made them serve, was with rigour. 

Exodus, 1 



MOSES IN THE ARK OF BULRUSHES 

And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, 
"Every son that is born ye shall cast into the 
river, and every daughter ye shall save alive." 

And there went a man of the house of Levi, and 
took to wife a daughter of Levi. And the woman 
bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a 
goodly child, she hid him three months. 

And when she could not longer hide him, she 
took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it 
with slime and with pitch, and put the child 
therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's 
brink. And his sister stood afar off, to wit what 
would be done to him. 

And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to 
wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked 
along by the river's side. And when she saw the 
ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. 
And when she had opened it, she saw the child: 
and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compas- 
sion on him, and said, "This is one of the He- 
brews' children." 

Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, 
" Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew 




THE FINDING OF MOSES 



MOSES AND THE BURNING BUSH 99 

women, that she may nurse the child for thee ? " 
And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Go." 

And the maid went and called the child's 
mother. And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, 
**Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I 
will give thee thy wages." And the woman took 
the child, and nursed it. 

And the child grew, and she brought him unto 
Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And 
she called his name Moses: and she said, "Be- 
cause I drew him out of the water." 

Exodus, 1, 2 

Read also, " Why Moses Fled from Egypt,'' Exodus, chap, 2, 
verses 11-25, and Acts, chap. 7 

MOSES AND THE BURNING BUSH 

And it came to pass in process of time, that the 
king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel 
sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, 
and their cry came up unto God by reason of the 
bondage. And God heard their groaning, and God 
remembered his covenant with Abraham, with 
Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the 
children of Israel, and God had respect unto them. 

Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father 
in law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock 
to the backside of the desert, and came to the 
mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel 



100 BIBLE STORIES 

of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire 
out of the midst of a bush. And he looked, and, 
behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush 
was not consumed. 

' And Moses said, "I will now turn aside, and see 
this great sight, why the bush is not burnt." And 
when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, 
God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, 
and said, "Moses, Moses." And he said, "Here 
am I." 

And he said, "Draw not nigh hither: put off 
thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon 
thou standest is holy ground." Moreover he said, 
"I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, 
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And 
Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon 
God. 

And the Lord said, "I have surely seen the 
affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and 
have heard their cry by reason of their task- 
masters; for I know their sorrows. And I am come 
down to deliver them out of the hand of the 
Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land 
unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing 
with milk and honey; unto the place of the Ca- 
naanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and 
the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 

" Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children 
of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen 



MOSES AND THE BURNING BUSH 101 

the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress 
them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee 
unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my 
people the children of Israel out of Egypt." 

And Moses said unto God, "Who am I, that I 
should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring 
forth the children of Israel out of Egypt.^" 

And he said, " Certainly I will be with thee; and 
this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent 
thee: when thou hast brought forth the people 
out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this moun- 
tain." 

And Moses said unto God, "Behold, when I 
come unto the children of Israel, and shall say 
unto them, * The God of your fathers hath sent me 
unto you; ' and they shall say to me, 'What is his 
name?' what shall I say unto them.^^" - 

And God said unto Moses, "I AM THAT I 
AM." And he said, "Thus shalt thou say unto 
the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto 

you." 

And God said moreover unto Moses, "Thus 
shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, *The 
Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, 
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent 
me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is 
my memorial unto all generations. 

"Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, 
and say unto them, *The Lord God of your fa- 



102 BIBLE STORIES 

thers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of 
Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely- 
visited you, ^and seen that which is done to you 
in Egypt. And I have said, I will bring you up 
out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the 
Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, 
and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jeb- 
usites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.' 

"And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou 
shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the 
king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, * The 
Lord God of the Hebrews hath met with us : and 
now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' jour- 
ney into the wilderness^ that we may sacrifice to 
the Lord our God.' 

*'And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not 
let you go, no, not by a mighty hand. And I will 
stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all 
my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: 
and after that he will let you go. 

"And I will give this people favour in the sight 
of the Egyptians : and it shall come to pass, that, 
when ye go, ye shall not go empty. But every 
woman shall ask of her neighbour, and of her that 
sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and 
jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them 
upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye 
shall spoil the Egyptians." 

Exodus, 2, 3 



ROD THAT BECAME A SERPENT 103 

THE ROD THAT BECAME A SERPENT 

And Moses answered and said, "But, behold, 
they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my 
voice: for they will say, 'The Lord hath not ap- 
peared unto thee.'" 

And the Lord said unto him, "What is that in 
thine hand?" And he said, "A rod." And he said, 
"Cast it on the ground." And he cast it on the 
ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled 
from before it. And the Lord said unto Moses, 
"Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail." 
And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it 
became a rod in his hand: "That they may be- 
lieve that the Lord God of their fathers, the God 
of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of 
Jacob, hath appeared unto thee." 

And the Lord said furthermore unto him, "Put 
now thine hand into thy bosom." And he put his 
hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, 
behold, his hand was leprous as snow. And he said, 
"Put thine hand into thy bosom again." And he 
put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it 
out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again 
as his other flesh. "And it shall come to pass, if 
they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the 
voice of the first sign, that they will believe the 
voice of the latter sign. And it shall come to pass, 
if they will not believe also these two signs, neither 



104 BIBLE STORIES 

hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of 
the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry 
land: and the water which thou takest out of the 
river shall become blood upon the dry land." 

And Moses said unto the Lord, "O my Lord, I 
am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since 
thou hast spoken unto thy servant : but I am slow 
of speech, and of a slow tongue." 

And the Lord said unto him, "Who hath made 
man's mouth.^ or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, 
or the seeing, or the blind .^^ have not I the Lord.^^ 
Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, 
and teach thee what thou shalt say." 

And he said, "O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by 
the hand of him whom thou wilt send." 

And the anger of the Lord was kindled against 
Moses, and he said, "Is not Aaron the Levite thy 
brother.'^ I know that he can speak well. And also, 
behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when 
he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. And 
thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his 
mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with 
his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. 
And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: 
and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of 
a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God. 
And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, where- 
with thou shalt do signs." 

And Moses went and returned to Jethro his 



ROD THAT BECAME A SERPENT 105 

father in law, and said unto him, "Let me go, I 
pray thee, and return unto my brethren which 
are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive." 
And Jethro said to Moses, "Go in peace." 

And the Lord said unto Moses in Midian, "Go, 
return into Egypt : for all the men are dead which 
sought thy life." And Moses took his wife and 
his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he re- 
turned to the land of Egypt. 

And the Lord said to Aaron, " Go into the wil- 
derness to meet Moses, " And he went, and met 
him in the mount of God, and kissed him. And 
Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord who 
had sent him, and all the signs which he had com- 
manded him. 

And Moses and Aaron went and gathered to- 
gether all the elders of the children of Israel. And 
Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had 
spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight 
of the people. And the people believed. And 
when they heard that the Lord had visited the 
children of Israel, and that he had looked upon 
their affliction, then they bowed their heads and 
worshipped. 

Exodus, 4 



106 BIBLE STORIES 

BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW 

And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and 
told Pharaoli, "Thus saith the Lord God of 
Israel, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a 
feast unto me in the wilderness.'" And Pharaoh 
said, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey his 
voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, 
neither will I let Israel go." 

And they said, "The God of the Hebrews hath 
met with us. Let us go, we pray thee, three days' 
journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the 
Lord our God; lest he fall upon us with pesti- 
lence, or with the sword." And the king of Egypt 
said unto them, "Wherefore do ye, Moses and 
Aaron, let the people from their works? Get you 
unto your burdens." And Pharaoh said, "Be- 
hold, the people of the land now are many, and 
ye make them rest from their burdens." 

And Pharaoh commanded the same day the 
taskmasters of the people, and their officers, say- 
ing, "Ye shall no more give the people straw 
to make brick, as heretofore. Let them go and 
gather straw for themselves. And the tale of 
the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye 
shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought 
thereof. For they be idle; therefore they cry, 
saying, ' Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' Let 
there more work be laid upon the men, that they 



BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW 107 

may labour therein; and let them not regard vain 
words." 

And the taskmasters of the people went out, 
and their officers, and they spake to the people, 
saying, "Thus saith Pharaoh, *I will not give 
you straw. Go ye, get you straw where ye can 
find it: yet not ought of your work shall be 
diminished.' " 

So the people were scattered abroad throughout 
all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of 
straw. And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, 
"Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when 
there was straw." And the officers of the children 
of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set 
over them, were beaten, and demanded, "Where- 
fore have ye not fulfilled your task in making 
brick both yesterday and to day, as hereto- 
fore?" :i 

Then the officers of the children of Israel came 
and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, "Wherefore 
dealest thou thus with thy servants .^ There is no 
straw given unto thy servants, and they say to 
us, 'Make brick:' and, behold, thy servants are 
beaten; but the fault is in thine own people." 

But he said, "Ye are idle, ye are idle: there- 
fore ye say, 'Let us go and do sacrifice to the 
Lord.' Go therefore now, and work; for there 
shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver 
the tale of bricks." 



108 BIBLE STORIES 

And the officers of the children of Israel did see 
that they were in evil case, after it was said, "Ye 
shall not minish ought from your bricks of your 
daily task." And they met Moses and Aaron, who 
stood in the way, as they came forth from Pha- 
raoh. And they said unto them, "The Lord look 
upon you, and judge; because ye have made our 
savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and 
in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their 
hand to slay us." 

Exodus, 5 

GOD TELLS HIS NAME TO MOSES 

And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, 
"Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this 
people. f^ why is it that thou hast sent me.^ For 
since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he 
hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou 
delivered thy people at all." 

Then the Lord said unto Moses, "Now shalt 
thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a 
strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong 
hand shall he drive them out of his land." 

And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, 
"I am the Lord: And I appeared unto Abraham, 
unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God 
Almighty, but by my name The Eternal was 
I not known to them. 



GOD TELLS HIS NAME TO MOSES 109 

** And I have also established my covenant with 
them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land 
of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. 
And I have also heard the groaning of the children 
of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; 
and I have remembered my covenant. Wherefore 
say unto the children of Israel, ' I am the Lord, 
and I will bring you out from under the burdens 
of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their 
bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched 
out arm, and with great judgments. 

" * And I will take you to me for a people, and 
I will be to you a God : and ye shall know that I 
am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out 
from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I 
will bring you in unto the land, concerning the 
which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, 
and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an herit- 
age: I am the Lord.'" 

Exodus, 5, 6 



%tmf%ue5DfE^^pt 



Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the 
land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. 

He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he 
made the waters to stand as an heap. 

In the daytime also he led them toith a cloud, and all the night 
with a light of fire. 

Psalm 78 



THE RODS OF THE EGYPTIAN 
MAGICIANS 

ND Moses spake so unto the children of 
Israel: but they hearkened not unto 
Moses for anguish of spirit, and for 
cruel bondage. 
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 
" Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, 
that he let the children of Israel go out of his 
land." 

And Moses spake before the Lord, saying, 
"Behold, the children of Israel have not heark- 
ened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, 
who am of uncircumcised lips.? " 

And the Lord said unto Moses, " See, I have 
made thee as God to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy 
brother shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak 
all that I command thee : and Aaron thy brother 
shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the child- 
ren of Israel out of his land. 

"And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and mul- 
tiply my signs and my wonders in the land of 
Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, 
that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring 
forth mine armies, and my people the children 



114 BIBLE STORIES 

of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great 
judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that 
I am the Lord, when I stretch forth mine hand 
upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel 
from among them." 

And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord com- 
manded them, so did they. And Moses was four- 
score years old, and Aaron fourscore and three 
years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto 
Aaron, saying, "When Pharaoh shall speak unto 
you, saying, * Shew a miracle for you: ' then thou 
shalt say unto Aaron, ' Take thy rod, and cast it 
before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.' " 

And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, 
and they did so as the Lord had commanded: and 
Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and 
before his servants, and it became a serpent. 
Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the 
sorcerers. Now the magicians of Egypt, they also 
did in like manner with their enchantments, for 
they cast down every man his rod, and they be- 
came serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their 
rods. 

And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he 
hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said. 

Exodus, 6, 7 



THE RIVER OF BLOOD 115 

THE FIRST PLAGUE — THE RIVER OF 
BLOOD 

And the Lord said unto Moses, " Pharaoh's 
heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people 
go. Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he 
goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by 
the river's brink against he come; and the rod 
which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in 
thine hand. 

"And thou shalt say unto him, * The Lord God 
of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, 
** Let my people go, that they may serve me in the 
wilderness: " and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest 
not hear. Thus saith the Lord, " In this thou shalt 
know that I am the Lord;" behold, I will smite 
with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters 
which are in'^ the river, and they shall be turned 
to blood. And the fish that is in the river shall 
die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians 
shall loathe to drink of the water of the river.' " 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, "Say unto 
Aaron, 'Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand 
upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, 
upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon 
all their pools of water, that they may become 
blood; and that there may be blood throughout 
all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and 
in vessels of stone.'" 



116 BIBLE STORIES 

And Moses and Aaron did so, as the Lord com- 
manded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the 
waters thaf were in the river, in the sight of Pha- 
raoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the 
waters that were in the river were turned to 
blood. And the fish that was in the river died; 
and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not 
drink of the water of the river; and there was 
blood throughout all the land of Egypt. I 

And the magicians of Egypt did so with their 
enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hard- 
ened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the 
Lord had said. And Pharaoh turned and went into 
his house, neither did he set his heart to this also. 

And all the Egyptians digged round about the 
river for water to drink; for they could not drink 
of the water of the river. 

And seven days were fulfilled, after that the 
Lord had smitten the river. 

Exodus, 7 

THE SECOND PLAGUE — THE SCOURGE 
OF FROGS 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, "Go unto 
Pharaoh, and say unto him, ' Thus saith the Lord, 
" Let my people go, that they may serve me. And 
if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite 
all thy borders with frogs. And the river shall 



THE SCOURGE OF FROGS 117 

bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up 
and come into thine house, and into thy bed- 
chamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house 
of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into 
thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs. And 
the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon 
thy people, and upon all thy servants." '" 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, " Say unto 
Aaron, * Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod 
over the streams, over the rivers, and over the 
ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land 
of Egypt.'" 

And Aaron stretched out his hand over the 
waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and cov- 
ered the land of Egypt. And the magicians did so 
with their enchantments, and brought up frogs 
upon the land of Egypt. 

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and 
said, "Intreat the Lord, that he may take away 
the frogs from me, and from my people; and I 
will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice 
unto the Lord." 

And Moses said unto Pharaoh, "Glory over me: 
when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, 
and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee 
and thy houses, that they may remain in the river 
only.^ " And he said, "To morrow." And he said, 
"Be it according to thy word: that thou may est 
know that there is none like unto the Lord our 



118 BIBLE STORIES 

God. And the frogs shall depart from thee, and 
from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from 
thy people; they shall remain in the river only." 

And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh : 
and Moses cried unto the Lord because of the 
frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh. And 
the Lord did according to the word of Moses; 
and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the 
villages, and out of the fields. And they gathered 
them together upon heaps : and the land stank. 

But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, 
he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto 
them; as the Lord had said. 

Exodus, 8 



THE THIRD PLAGUE — THE LICE 

And the Lord said unto Moses, "Say unto 
Aaron, * Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of 
the land, that it may become lice throughout all 
the land of Egypt.' " 

And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his 
hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the 
earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; 
all the dust of the land became lice throughout 
all the land of Egypt. And the magicians did so 
with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but 
they could not. So there were lice upon man, and 
upon beast. 



THE SWARMS OF FLIES 119 

Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, "This 
is the finger of God." And Pharaoh's heart was 
hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as 
the Lord had said. 

Exodus, 8 

THE FOURTH PLAGUE — THE SWARMS 
OF FLIES 

And the Lord said unto Moses, "Rise up 
early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; 
lo, he Cometh forth to the water; and say unto 
him, 'Thus saith the Lord, "Let my people go, 
that they may serve me. Else*, if thou wilt not let 
my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies 
upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy 
people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the 
Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also 
the ground whereon they are. And I will sever in 
that day the land of Goshen, in which my people 
dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to 
the end thou mayest know that I am the Lord in 
the midst of the earth. And I will put a division 
between my people and thy people: to morrow 
shall this sign be." ' " 

And the Lord did so; and there came a grievous 
swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into 
his servants' houses, and into all the land of 
Egypt. The land was corrupted by reason of the 
swarm of flies. 



120 BIBLE STOEIES 

And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, 
and said, "Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the 
land." ^ 

And Moses said, "It is not meet so to do; for we 
shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians 
to the Lord our God. Lo, shall we sacrifice the 
abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, 
and will they not stone us.^ We will go three 
days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to 
the Lord our God, as he shall command us." 

And Pharaoh said, "I will let you go, that ye 
may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilder- 
ness; only ye shall not go very far away. Intreat 
for me." . ^ ^ 

. And Moses said, "Behold, I go out from thee, 
and I will intreat the Lord that the swarms of 
flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, 
and from his people, to morrow ; but let not Pha- 
raoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the 
people go to sacrifice to the Lord." 

And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and in- 
treated the Lord. And the Lord did according to 
the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of 
flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from 
his people; there remained not one. 

And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time 
also, neither would he let the people go. 

Exodus, 8 



THE GRIEVOUS MURRAIN 121 

THE FIFTH PLAGUE — THE 
GRIEVOUS MURRAIN 

Then the Lord said unto Moses, "Go in unto 
Pharaoh, and tell him, * Thus saith the Lord God 
of the Hebrews, *' Let my people go, that they may 
serve me. For if thou refuse to let them go, and 
wilt hold them still, behold, the hand of the Lord 
is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the 
horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the 
oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very 
grievous murrain. And the Lord shall sever be- 
tween the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt ; 
and there shall nothing die of all that is the chil- 
dren's of Israel.'" " 

And the Lord appointed a set time, saying, 
"To morrow the Lord shall do this thing in the 
land." And the Lord did that thing on the mor- 
row, and all the cattle of Egypt died. But of the 
cattle of the children of Israel died not one. 

And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not 
one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the 
heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not 
let the people go. 

Exodus, 9 



122 BIBLE STORIES 

THE SIXTH PLAGUE — THE BOILS ON 
MAN AND BEAST 

And the Lord said unto Moses and unto Aaron, 
"Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, 
and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the 
sight of Pharaoh. And it shall become small dust 
in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil break- 
ing forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, 
throughout all the land of Egypt." 

And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood 
before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up to- 
ward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth 
with blains upon man, and upon beast. And the 
magicians could not stand before Moses because 
of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, 
and upon all the Egyptians. 

And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, 
and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had 
spoken unto Moses. 

Exodus, 9 

THE SEVENTH PLAGUE — THE HAIL 
AND FIRE 

And the Lord said unto Moses, "Rise up early 
in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say 
unto him, ' Thus saith the Lord God of the He- 
brews, " Let my people go, that they may serve me. 



THE HAIL AND FIRE 123 

For I will at this time send all my plagues upon 
thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy 
people; that thou may est know that there is none 
like me in all the earth. For now I will stretch out 
my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people 
with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the 
earth. 

" 7' ^^^ in very deed for this cause have I raised 
thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that 
my name may be declared throughout all the 
earth. As yet exaltest thou thyself against my 
people, that thou wilt not let them go? 

*''" Behold, to morrow about this time I will 
cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath 
not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof 
even until now. Send therefore now, and gather 
thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field ; for 
upon every man and beast which shall be found 
in the field, and shall not be brought home, the 
hail shall come down upon them, and they shall 
die.'"" 

He that feared the word of the Lord among the 
servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his 
cattle flee into the houses. And he that regarded 
not the word of the Lord left his servants and his 
cattle in the field. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, "Stretch forth 
thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail 
in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon 



124 BIBLE STORIES 

beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout 
the land of Egypt." 

And Moses stretched forth his rod toward 
heaven : and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and 
the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord 
rained hail upon the land of Egypt. So there was 
hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, 
such as there was none like it in all the land of 
Egypt since it became a nation. And the hail 
smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that 
was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail 
smote every herb of the field, and brake every 
tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, 
where the children of Israel were, was there no 
hail. 

And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and 
Aaron, and said unto them, ''I have sinned this 
time. The Lord is righteous, and I and my people 
are wicked. Intreat the Lord (for it is enough) 
that there be no more mighty thunderings and 
hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no 
longer." 

And Moses said unto him, ''As soon as I am 
gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my 
hands unto the Lord ; and the thunder shall cease, 
neither shall there be any more hail; that thou 
mayest know how that the earth is the Lord's. 
But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye 
will not yet fear the Lord God." 



THE LOCUSTS 125 

And the flax and the barley was smitten: for 
the barley was in the ear, and the flax was boiled. 
But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for 
they were not grown up. 

And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, 
and spread abroad his hands unto the Lord: and 
the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was 
not poured upon the earth. 

And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the 
hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet 
more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. 
And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither 
would he let the children of Israel go; as the Lord 
had spoken by Moses. 

Exodus, 9 

THE EIGHTH PLAGUE — THE LOCUSTS 
THAT COVERED THE LAND 

And the Lord said unto Moses, "Go in unto 
Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the 
heart of his servants, that I might shew these my 
signs before him: and that thou may est tell in 
the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what 
things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs 
which I have done among them; that ye may 
know how that I am the Lord." 

And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, 
and said unto him, '*Thus saith the Lord God of 



126 BIBLE STORIES 

the Hebrews, * How long wilt thou refuse to hum- 
ble thyself before me? let my people go, that they 
may serve me. Else, if thou refuse to let my peo- 
ple go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts 
into thy coast. And they shall cover the face 
of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the 
earth. And they shall eat the residue of that 
which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from 
the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth 
for you out of the field. And they shall fill thy 
houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the 
houses of all the Egyptians; which neither thy 
fathers, nor thy fathers' fathers have seen, since 
the day that they were upon the earth unto this 
day.'" And he turned himself, and went out 
from Pharaoh. 

And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, **How 
long shall this man be a snare unto us.^ let the 
men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. 
Knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed.?" 

And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto 
Pharaoh: and he said unto them, ''Go, serve the 
Lord your God: but who are they that shall go.^^ " 
And Moses said, ''We will go with our young and 
with our old, with our sons and with our daugh- 
ters, with our flocks and with our herds will we 
go; for we must hold a feast unto the Lord." And 
he said unto them, "Let the Lord be so with you, 
as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it; 



THE LOCUSTS 127 

for evil is before you. Not so: go now ye that are 
men, and serve the Lord; for that ye did desire." 
And they were driven out from Pharaoh's pres- 
ence. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, '* Stretch out 
thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, 
that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, 
and eat every herb of the land, even all that the 
hail hath left." 

And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land 
of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind 
upon the land all that day, and all that night; and 
when it was morning, the east wind brought the 
locusts. And the locusts went up over all the land 
of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt. 
Very grievous were they; before them there were 
no such locusts as they, neither after them shall 
be such. For they covered the face of the whole 
earth, so that the land was darkened; and they 
did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of 
the trees which the hail had left. And there re- 
mained not any green thing in the trees, or in the 
herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt. 

Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in 
haste; and he said, "I have sinned against the 
Lord your God, and against you. Now therefore 
forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and in- 
treat the Lord your God, that he may take away 
from me this death only." 



128 BIBLE STOBJES 

And he went out from Pharaoh, and intreated 
the Lord. And the Lord turned a mighty strong 
west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast 
them into the Red sea; there remained not one 
locust in all the coasts of Egypt. 

But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that 
he would not let the children of Israel go. 

Exodus, 10 

THE NINTH PLAGUE — DAREINESS 
THAT MIGHT BE FELT 

And the Lord said unto Moses, "Stretch out 
thine hand toward heaven, that there may be 
darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness 
which may be felt." 

And Moses stretched forth his hand toward 
heaven ; and there was a thick darkness in all the 
land of Egypt three days. They saw not one an- 
other, neither rose any from his place for three 
days. But all the children of Israel had light in 
their dwellings. 

And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, " Go 
ye, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your 
herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with 
you." And Moses said, "Thou must give us also 
sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice 
unto the Lord our God. Our cattle also shall go 
with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for 



DARKNESS 1£9 

thereof must we take to serve the Lord our God; 
and we know not with what we must serve the 
Lord, until we come thither." 

But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and 
he w^ould not let them go. And Pharaoh said unto 
him, "Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see 
my face no more; for in that day thou seest my 
face thou shalt die." 

And Moses said, "Thou hast spoken well, I 
will see thy face again no more." 

And Moses said, "Thus saith the Lord, * About 
midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt. 
And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall 
die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth 
upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the 
maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the 
firstborn of beasts. And there shall be a great cry 
throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there 
was none like it, nor shall be like it any more. 

"'But against any of the children of Israel 
shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or 
beast : that ye may know how that the Lord doth 
put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. 

"'And all these thy servants shall come down 
unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, say- 
ing, "Get thee out, and all the people that follow 
thee : " and after that I will go out.' " And he went 
out from Pharaoh in a great anger. 



130 BIBLE STORIES 

And the Lord said unto Moses, "Pharaoh shall 
not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be 
multipliedln the land of Egypt." And Moses and 
Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: 
and the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that 
he would not let the children of Israel go out of 
his land. 

Exodus, 10, 11 

THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB THAT 
WAS SLAIN 

Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, 
and said unto them, "Draw out and take you a 
lamb according to your families, and kill the pass- 
over. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and 
dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike 
the lintel and the two side posts with the blood 
that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out 
at the door of his house until the morning. 

"For the Lord will pass through to smite the 
Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon 
the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord 
will pass over the door, and will not suffer the 
destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite 
you. 

" And ye shall observe this thing for an ordin- 
ance to thee and to thy sons for ever. And it 
shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land 



DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORN 131 

which the Lord will give you, according as he 
hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. 

"And it shall come to pass, when your children 
shall say unto you, 'What mean ye by this serv- 
ice?' That ye shall say, *It is the sacrifice of the 
Lord's passover, who passed over the houses of 
the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote 
the Egyptians, and delivered our houses.' " 

And the people bowed the head and wor- 
shipped. 

And the children of Israel went away, and did 
as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, 
so did they. 

Exodus, 12 

Other beautiful stories about the Lamb are, '' As a Lamb to 
the Slaughter," Isaiah, chap. 53; ^'Behold the Lamb of God," 
John, chap. 1; ^^ Worthy is the Lamb" Revelation, chap. 5 

THE TENTH PLAGUE — THE DEATH 
OF THE FIRSTBORN 

And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord 
smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from 
the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne 
unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the 
dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. 

And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all 
his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was 
a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house 
where there was not one dead. 



132 BIBLE STOEIES 

■»•- 

And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, 
and said, "Rise up, and get you forth from 
among my^ people, both ye and the children of 
Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said. 
Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have 
said, and be gone; and bless me also." And the 
Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they 
might send them out of the land in haste; for they 
said, "We be all dead men." 

And the people took their dough before it was 
leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up 
in their clothes upon their shoulders. And the 
children of Israel did according to the word of 
Moses; and they asked of the Egyptians jewels of 
silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: And the 
Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the 
Egyptians, so that they let them have what they 
asked. And they spoiled the Egyptians. 

And the children of Israel journeyed from Ram- 
eses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on 
foot that were men, beside children. And a mixed 
multitude went up also with them; and flocks, 
and herds, even very much cattle. And they 
baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they 
brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leav- 
ened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and 
could not tarry, neither had they prepared for 
themselves any victual. 

Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, 



PILLARS OF CLOUD AND OF FffiE 13S 

who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty 
years. And it came to pass at the end of the four 
hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it 
came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went 
out from the land of Egypt. It is a night to be 
much observed unto the Lord for bringing them 
out from the land of Egypt: this is that night 
of the Lord to be observed of all the children of 
Israel in their generations. 

Exodus, 12 



THE PILLAR OF CLOUD, AND THE 
PILLAR OF FIRE 

And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the 
people go, that God led them not through the 
way of the land of the Philistines, although that 
was near; for God said, "Lest peradventure the 
people repent when they see war, and they return 
to Egypt:" but God led the people about, 
through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea. 
And the children of Israel went up harnessed out 
of the land of Egypt. 

And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him : 
for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, 
saying, "God will surely visit you; and ye shall 
carry up my bones away hence with you." 

And the Lord went before them by day in a 
pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by 



134 BIBLE STORIES 

night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go 
by day and night. He took not away the pillar 
of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, 
from before the people. 

Exodus, 13 



HOW PHAEAOH'S HORSES AND 
CHARIOTS WERE CAST INTO THE 

RED SEA 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 
"Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn 
and encamp by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of 
the children of Israel, ' They are entangled in the 
land, the wilderness hath shut them in.' And I 
will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow 
after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, 
and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may 
know that I am the Lord." And they did so. 

And it was told the king of Egypt that the peo- 
ple fled. And the heart of Pharaoh and of his 
servants was turned against the people, and they 
said, "Why have we done this, that we have let 
Israel go from serving us.^" And he made ready 
his chariot, and took his people with him. And he 
took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the 
chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of 
them. 

And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh 



PHARAOH'S HORSES CAST INTO SEA 135 

king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children 
of Israel : and the children of Israel went out with 
an high hand. But the Egyptians pursued after 
them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and 
his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them 
encamping by the sea. 

And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of 
Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyp- 
tians marched after them; and they were sore 
afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto 
the Lord. And they said unto Moses, *' Because 
there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken 
us away to die in the wilderness.^ wherefore hast 
thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of 
Egypt .'^ Is not this the word that we did tell thee 
in Egypt, saying, 'Let us alone, that we may 
serve the Egyptians.^' For it had been better for 
us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die 
in the wilderness." 

And Moses said unto the people, " Fear ye not, 
stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, 
which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyp- 
tians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them 
again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for 
you, and ye shall hold your peace." 

And the Lord said unto Moses, "Wherefore 
criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of 
Israel, that they go forward. But lift thou up thy 
rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and 



136 BIBLE STORIES 

divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on 
dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I, 
behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, 
and they shall follow them : and I will get me hon- 
our upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his 
chariots, and upon his horsemen. And the Egyp- 
tians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have 
gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chari- 
ots, and upon his horsemen." 

And the Angel of God, which went before the 
camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; 
and the pillar of the cloud went from before their 
face, and stood behind them. And it came be- 
tween the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of 
Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, 
but it gave light by night to these : so that the one 
came not near the other all the night. 

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; 
and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong 
east wind all that night, and made the sea dry 
land, and the waters were divided. And the chil- 
dren of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon 
the dry ground. And the waters were a wall unto 
them on their right hand, and on their left. 

And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after 
them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's 
horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And it 
came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord 
looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the 



PHARAOH'S HORSES CAST INTO SEA 137 

pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the 
host of the Egyptians, and took off their chariot 
wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the 
Egyptians said, "Let us flee from the face of Is- 
rael; for the Lord fighteth for them against the 
Egyptians." 

And the Lord said unto Moses, " Stretch out 
thine hand over the sea, that the waters may 
come again upon the Egyptians, upon their cha- 
riots, and upon their horsemen." 

And Moses stretched forth his hand over the 
sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the 
morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled 
against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians 
in the midst of the sea. 

And the waters returned, and covered the cha- 
riots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pha- 
raoh that came into the sea after them; there 
remained not so much as one of them. But the 
children of Israel walked upon dry land in the 
midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto 
them on their right hand, and on their left. 

Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the 
hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyp- 
tians dead upon the sea shore. And Israel saw 
that great work which the Lord did upon the 
Egyptians : and the people feared the Lord, and 
believed the Lord, and his servant Moses. 

Exodus, 14 



138 BIBLE STORIES 

THE SONG OF TRIUMPH 

Then sang Moses and the children of Israel 
this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, 

"I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath tri- 
umphed gloriously : the horse and his rider hath 
he thrown into the sea. 

" The Lord is my strength and song, and he is 
become my salvation : he is my God, and I will 
prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and 
I will exalt him. 

" The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his 
name. 

" Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast 
into the sea : his chosen captains also are drowned 
in the Red sea. 

"The depths have covered them: they sank 
into the bottom as a stone. 

" Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious 
in power : thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in 
pieces the enemy. 

*' And in the greatness of thine excellency thou 
hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: 
thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed 
them as stubble. 

" And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters 
were gathered together, the floods stood upright 
as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the 
heart of the sea. 



THE SONG OF TRIUMPH 139 

" The enemy said, ' I will pursue, I will overtake, 
I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied 
upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall 
destroy them/ 

" Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea cov- 
ered them : they sank as lead in the mighty waters. 

" Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the 
gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fear- 
ful in praises, doing wonders? 

" Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the 
earth swallowed them. 

" Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people 
which thou hast redeemed : thou hast guided them 
in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. 

"The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow 
shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. 

'* Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the 
mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold 
upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall 
melt away. 

"Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the 
greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a 
stone; till thy people pass over, O Lord, till the 
people pass over, which thou hast purchased. 

"Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in 
the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, 
O Lord, which thou hast made for thee to dwell 
in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands 
have established. 



140 BIBLE STORIES 

" The Lord shall reign for ever and ever." 
For the horses of Pharaoh went in with his 
chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and 
the Lord brought again the waters of the sea upon 
them; but the children of Israel went on dry land 
in the midst of the sea. 

And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, 
took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women 
went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 
And Miriam answered them, " Sing ye to the 
Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse 
and his rider hath he thrown into the sea." 

Exodus, 15 



M^^tm hx\ktMkvm5 



They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way ; they 
found no city to dwell in. 

Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. 

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered 
them out of their distresses. 

And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a 
city of habitation. 

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for 
his wonderful works to the children of men ! 

Psalm 107 



THE ANGELS' FOOD 

ND they took their journey from Elim, 
and all the congregation of the children 
of Israel came unto the wilderness of 
Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the 
fifteenth day of the second month after 
their departing out of the land of Egypt. 
And the whole congregation of the children of 
Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the 
wilderness. And the children of Israel said unto 
them, "Would to God we had died by the hand of 
the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the 
flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; 
for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, 
to kill this whole assembly with hunger." 

Then said the Lord unto Moses, "Behold, I will 
rain bread from heaven for you; and the people 
shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, 
that I may prove them, whether they will walk in 
my law, or no. And it shall come to pass, that on 
the sixth day they shall prepare that which they 
bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they 
gather daily." 

And Moses and Aaron said unto all the chil- 
dren of Israel, "At even, then ye shall know that 
the Lord hath brought you out from the land of 



144 BIBLE STORIES 

Egypt. And in the morning, then ye shall see the 
glory of the Lord; for that he heareth your mur- 
murings against the Lord : and what are we, that 
ye murmur against us?" 

And Moses said, " This shall be, when the Lord 
shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in 
the morning bread to the full; for that the Lord 
heareth your murmurings which ye murmur 
against him: and what are we? your murmurings 
are not against us, but against the Lord." 

And Moses spake unto Aaron, "Say unto all 
the congregation of the children of Israel, ' Come 
near before the Lord : for he hath heard your mur- 
murings.' " And it came to pass, as Aaron spake 
unto the whole congregation of the children of 
Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, 
and, behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the 
cloud. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, "I 
have heard the murmurings of the children of 
Israel: speak unto them, saying, 'At even ye shall 
eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with 
bread; and ye shall know that I am the Lord your 
God.'" 

And it came to pass, that at even the quails 
came up, and covered the camp: and in the morn- 
ing the dew lay round about the host. And when 
the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the 
face of the wilderness there lay a small round 



THE ANGELS' FOOD 145 

thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. 
And when the children of Israel saw it, they said 
one to another, "It is manna: " for they wist not 
what it was. 

And Moses said unto them, ^'"This is the bread 
which the Lord hath given you to eat. This is the 
thing which the Lord hath commanded, ' Gather 
of it every man according to his eating, an omer 
for every man, according to the number of your 
persons ; take ye every man for them which are 
in his tents.' " 

And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, 
some more, some less. And when they did mete 
it with an omer, he that gathered much had noth- 
ing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; 
they gathered every man according to his eating. 

And Moses said, "Let no man leave of it till 
the morning." Notwithstanding they hearkened 
not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until 
the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and 
Moses was wroth with them. And they gathered 
it every morning, every man according to his eat- 
ing. And when the sun waxed hot, it melted. 

And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they 
gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one 
man: and all the rulers of the congregation came 
and told Moses. And he said unto them, " This is 
that which the Lord hath said. To morrow is the 
rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord. Bake 



146 BIBLE STORIES 

that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye 
will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up 
for you to be kept until the morning." 

And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses 
bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any 
worm therein. And Moses said, " Eat that to day; 
for to day is a sabbath unto the Lord. To day ye 
shall not find it in the field. Six days ye shall 
gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the 
sabbath, in it there shall be none." 

And it came to pass, that there went out some 
of the people on the seventh day for to gather, 
and they found none. And the Lord said unto 
Moses, "How long refuse ye to keep my com- 
mandments and my laws.? See, for that the Lord 
hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth 
you on the sixth day the bread of two days ; abide 
ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his 
place on the seventh day." So the people rested 
on the seventh day. 

And the house of Israel called the name thereof 
"Manna." And it was like coriander seed, white; 
and the taste of it was like wafers made with 
honey. 

And Moses said, "This is the thing which the 
Lord commandeth, 'Fill an omer of it to be kept 
for your generations ; that they may see the bread 
wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when 
I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.'" 



WRITTEN WITH FINGER OF GOD 147 

And Moses said unto Aaron, "Take a pot, and 
put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up 
before the Lord, to be kept for your generations." 
As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it 
up before the Testimony, to be kept. 

And the children of Israel did eat manna forty 
years, until they came to a land inhabited; they 
did eat manna, until they came unto the borders 
of the land of Canaan. 

Exodus, 16 



WRITTEN WITH THE FINGER OF 
GOD 

In the third month, when the children of Israel 
were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the 
same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. 
For they were departed from Rephidim, and were 
come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in 
the wilderness; and there Israel camped before 
the mount. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, "Come up unto 
the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, 
and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship 
ye afar off. And Moses alone shall come near the 
Lord: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall 
the people go up with him." 

Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and 



148 BIBLE STORIES 

Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. And 
they sa\^ the God of Israel : and there was under 
his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire 
stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his 
clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of 
Israel he laid not his hand : also they saw God, and 
did eat and drink. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, "Come up to 
me into the mount, and be there: and I will give 
thee tables of stone, and a law, and command- 
ments which I have written; that thou may est 
teach them." 

And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: 
and Moses went up into the mount of God. And 
he said unto the elders, "Tarry ye here for us, 
until we come again unto you. And, behold, 
Aaron and Hur are with you. If any man have 
any matters to do, let him come unto them." 

And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud 
covered the mount. And the glory of the Lord 
abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered 
it six days. And the seventh day he called unto 
Moses out of the midst of the cloud. And the 
sight of the glory of the Lord was like devour- 
ing fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of 
the children of Israel. And Moses went into the 
midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the 
mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days 
and forty nights. 



ppwf-'- 




MOSES AND THE TABLES OF STONE 



THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 149 

And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an 
end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, 
two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written 
with the finger of God. 

Exodus, 19, 24, 31 

Read also, about *'The Bitter Waters," Exodus, chap. 15, 
verses 22-27; and about " The Battle with Amalek," Exodus, 
chap. 17; and ''Why all the People Trembled,'' Exodus, chap. 19 



THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 

And God spake all these words, saying, *' I am 
the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out 
of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 

" Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 

" Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven 
image, or any likeness of any thing that is in 
heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or 
that is in the water under the earth : 

" Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor 
serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous 
God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the 
children unto the third and fourth generation of 
them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto 
thousands of them that love me, and keep my 
commandments. 

*' Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy 
God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guilt- 
less that taketh his name in vain. 



150 BIBLE STORIES 

" Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 

"Six da^s shalt thou labour, and do all thy 
work: 

" But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord 
thy God : in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, 
nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, 
nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy 
stranger that is within thy gates: 

" For in six days the Lord made heaven and 
earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested 
the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the 
sabbath day, and hallowed it. 

" Honour thy father and thy mother : that thy 
days may be long upon the land which the Lord 
thy God giveth thee. 

" Thou shalt not kill. 

** Thou shalt not commit adultery. 

" Thou shalt not steal. 

" Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy 
neighbour. 

" Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, 
thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his 
manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor 
his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's." 

And all the people saw the thunder ings, and 
the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and 
the mountain smoking : and when the people saw 
it, they removed, and stood afar off. 

Exodus, 20 



A FEW OF GOD'S LAWS 151 

A FEW OF THE MANY LAWS GOD 
GAVE ISRAEL 

Hear, O Israel : The Lord our God is one Lord : 
and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all 
thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all 
thy might. 

Deuteronomy, 6 

Ye shall not do after all the things that we do 
here this day, every man whatsoever is right in 
his own eyes. 

Deuteronomy, 12 

Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, 
neither rear you up a standing image, neither 
shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to 
bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God. 

Leviticus, 26 

Neither lie one to another. 

LeviticuSj 19 

Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment. 
Thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, 
nor honour the person of the mighty: but in 
righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. 

Leviticus, 19 



152 BIBLE STORIES 

And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blind- 
eth the wjse, and perverteth the words of the 
righteous. 

Exodus, 23 

Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the 
stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's 
raiment to pledge. 

Deuteronomy, 24 

Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, 
a great and a small. Thou shalt not have in thine 
house divers measures, a great and a small. But 
thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a per- 
fect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy 
days may be lengthened in the land which the 
Lord thy God giveth thee. For all that do such 
things, and all that do unrighteously, are an 
abomination unto the Lord thy God. 

Deuteronomy, 25 

Regard not them that have familiar spirits, 
neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them : 
I am the Lord your God. 

Leviticus, 19 

Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil. 

Exodus, 23 



A FEW OF GOD'S LAWS 153 

Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and 
honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God : 
I am the Lord. 

Leviticus, 19 

Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither 
rob him. 

Leviticus, 19 

Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is 
poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or 
of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy 
gates: at his day thou shalt give him his hire, 
neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is 
poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry 
against thee unto the Lord, and it be sin unto 
thee. 

Deuteronomy, 24 

Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stum- 
blingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy 
God: I am the Lord. 

Leviticus, 19 

Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer 
among thy people. 

Leviticus, 19 



154 BIBLE STORIES 

If there be among you a poor man of one of thy 
brethren within any of thy gates in thy land 
which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt 
not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from 
thy poor brother: but thou shalt open thine hand 
wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient 
for his need, in that which he wanteth. 

Deuteronomy, 15 

When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy 
field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou 
shalt not go again to fetch it. It shall be for the 
stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: 
that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the 
work of thine hands. 

When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt 
not go over the boughs again. It shall be for the 
stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. 

When thou gather est the grapes of thy vine- 
yard, thou shalt not glean it afterward. It shall be 
for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the 
widow. 

Deuteronomy, 24 

For the poor shall never cease out of the land : 
therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt 
open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy 
poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. 

Deuteronomy, 15 



A FEW OF GOD'S LAWS 155 

When thou comest into thy neighbour's vine- 
yard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at 
thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in 
thy vessel. 

When thou comest into the standing corn of 
thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears 
with thine hand ; but thou shalt not move a sickle 
unto thy neighbour's standing corn. 

Deuteronomy, 23 

If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the 
way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they 
be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon 
the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take 
the dam with the young. But thou shalt in any 
wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; 
that it may be well with thee, and that thou 
mayest prolong thy days. 

Deuteronomy, 22 

"V\Tien thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in 
making war against it to take it, thou shalt not 
destroy the trees thereof by forcing an ax against 
them : for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt 
not cut them down (for the tree of the field is 
man's life) to employ them in the siege. Only the 
trees which thou knowest that they be not trees 
for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them 



156 BIBLE STORIES 

down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against 
the city that maketh war with thee, until it be 
subdued. 

Deuteronomy, 20 



Thou shalt not see thy brother's ox or his sheep 
go astray, and hide thyself from them : thou shalt 
in any case bring them again unto thy brother. 
And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if 
thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it unto 
thine own house, and it shall be with thee until 
thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it 
to him again. In like manner shalt thou do with 
his ass; and so shalt thou do with his raiment; and 
with all lost thing of thy brother's, which he hath 
lost, and thou hast found, shalt thou do like- 
wise: thou mayest not hide thyself. Thou shalt 
not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the 
way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt 
surely help him to lift them up again. 

Deuteronomy, 22 

If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going 
astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him 
again. If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee 
lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to 
help him, thou shalt surely help with him. 

Exodus, 23 



THE GOLDEN CALF 157 

Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart. 

Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge 
against the children of thy people. 

But thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself : 
I am the Lord. 

Leviticus, 19 

Read " The Sermon on the Mount,'' Matthew, chap. 5 and 
chaps. 6, 7; and " The Two Commandments," Matthew, chap. 
22, verses 34--4-0, Mark, chap. 12, verses 28-34- ,' cdso, " The 
Rich Young Man,"' Mark, chap. 10, verses 17-31; and ''The 
Greatest of These,'' 1 Corinthians, chap. 13 



THE GOLDEN CALF 

And when the people saw that Moses delayed 
to come down out of the mount, the people gath- 
ered themselves together unto Aaron, and said 
unto him, "Up, make us gods, which shall go 
before us; for as for this Moses, the man that 
brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot 
not what is become of him." 

And Aaron said unto them, "Break off the 
golden earrings, which are in the ears of your 
wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and 
bring them unto me." 

And all the people brake off the golden earrings 
which were in their ears, and brought them unto 
Aaron. And he received them at their hand, and 
fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had 
made it a molten calf: and they said, "These be 



158 BIBLE STORIES 

thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of 
the land of Egypt." And when Aaron saw it, he 
built an altar before it; and Aaron made procla- 
mation, and said, "To morrow is a feast to the 
Lord." 

And they rose up early on the morrow, and 
offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offer- 
ings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, 
and rose up to play. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, "Go, get thee 
down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out 
of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 
They have turned aside quickly out of the way 
which I commanded them. They have made 
them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and 
have sacrificed thereunto, and said, ' These be thy 
gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of 
the land of Egypt.'" 

And the Lord said unto Moses, "I have seen 
this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people. 
Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may 
wax hot against them, and that I may consume 
them: and I will make of thee a great nation." 

And Moses besought the Lord his God, and 
said, "Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against 
thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of 
the land of Egypt with great power, and with a 
mighty hand.^^ Wherefore should the Egyptians 
speak, and say, 'For mischief did he bring them 



THE GOLDEN CALF 159 

out, to slay them in the mountains, and to con- 
sume them from the face of the earth? ' Turn 
from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil 
against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, 
and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest 
by thine own self, and saidst unto them, *I will 
multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all 
this land that I have spoken of will I give unto 
your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.' " 

And the Lord repented of the evil which he 
thought to do unto his people. 

And Moses turned, and went down from the 
mount, and the two tables of the testimony were 
in his hand. The tables were written on both 
their sides; on the one side and on the other were 
they written. And the tables were the work of 
God, and the writing was the writing of God, 
graven upon the tables. 

And when Joshua heard the noise of the people 
as they shouted, he said unto Moses, "There is a 
noise of war in the camp." And he said, "It is 
not the voice of them that shout for mastery, 
neither is it the voice of them that cry for being 
overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I 
hear." 

And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh 
unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the danc- 
ing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the 
tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath 



160 BIBLE STORIES 

the mount. And he took the calf which they had 
made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to 
powder, and strewed it upon the water, and made 
the children of Israel drink of it. 

And Moses said unto Aaron, "What did this 
people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great 
a sin upon them.^" 

And Aaron said, "Let not the anger of my lord 
wax hot. Thou knowest the people, that they are 
set on mischief. For they said unto me, *Make us 
gods, which shall go before us: for as for this 
Moses, the man that brought us up out of the 
land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.' 
And I said unto them, ' Whosoever hath any gold, 
let them break it off.' So they gave it me: then I 
cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf." 

And when Moses saw that the people were 
naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto 
their shame among their enemies:) then Moses 
stood in the gate of the camp, and said, "Who is 
on the Lord's side.^^ let him come unto me." And 
all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together 
unto him. 

And he said unto them, "Thus saith the Lord 
God of Israel, *Put every man his sword by his 
side, and go in and out from gate to gate through- 
out the camp, and slay every man his brother, 
and every man his companion, and every man his 
neighbour.'" 



THE GOLDEN CALF 161 

And the children of Levi did*^ according to the 
word of Moses : and there fell of the people that 
day about three thousand men. For Moses had 
said, "Consecrate yourselves to day to the Lord, 
even every man upon his son, and upon his 
brother, that he may bestow upon you a bless- 
ing this day." 

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses 
said unto the people, **Ye have sinned a great 
sin. And now I will go up unto the Lord; perad- 
venture I shall make an atonement for your sin." 

And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, 
*' Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have 
made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt 
forgive their sin — ; and if not, blot me, I pray 
thee, out of thy book which thou hast written." 

And the Lord said unto Moses, "Whosoever 
hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my 
book. Therefore now go, lead the people unto the 
place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, 
mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in 
the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon 
them." 

And the Lord plagued the people, because they 
had made the calf, which Aaron made. 

Exodus, 32 

For about " The Vail on Moses* Face/' see Exodus, chaps. 
S3, 34, also 2 Corinthians, chap. 3 



162 BIBLE STORIES 

THE GRAPES OF ESHCOL 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, "Send 
thou men, that they may search the land of Ca- 
naan, which I give unto the children of Israel : of 
every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, 
every one a ruler among them." 

And Moses by the commandment of the Lord 
sent them from the wilderness of Paran : all those 
men were heads of the children of Israel. 

And Moses sent them to spy out the land of 
Canaan, and said unto them, "Get you up this 
way southward, and go up into the mountain: 
and see the land, what it is; and the people that 
dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, 
few or many; and what the land is that they 
dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what 
cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, 
or in strong holds; and what the land is, whether 
it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, 
or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of 
the fruit of the land." Now the time was the time 
of the firstripe grapes. 

So they went up, and searched the land from 
the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to 
Hamath. And they ascended by the south, and 
came unto Hebron; where the children of Anak 
were. 

And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and 



GIANTS, THE SONS OF ANAK 163 

cut down from thence a branch with one cluster 
of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a 
staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and 
of the figs. The place was called the brook Eshcol, 
(that is a cluster) because of the cluster of grapes 
which the children of Israel cut down from thence. 
And they returned from searching of the land 
after forty days. 

Numbers, 13 

Read these stories also, ''How They Built the Tabernacle," 
Exodus, chaps. 35-Jf.O; Numbers, chap. 9, verses 15-23; " The 
Camp Blessing,"" Numbers, chap. 6, verses 22-21; ''What 
Great Feast Days They Were to Keep," Leviticus, 23; " The 
Coming of the Quails," Numbers, chap. 11; " The Punishment 
of Miriam," Numbers, chap. 12 



THE GIANTS, THE SONS OF ANAK 

And they went and came to Moses, and to 
Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children 
of Israel, and brought back word unto them, and 
unto all the congregation, and shewed them the 
fruit of the land. 

And they told him, and said, "We came untc 
the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it 
floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit 
of it. Nevertheless the people be strong that 
dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and 
very great. And moreover we saw the children 
of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land 



164 BIBLE STORIES 

of the south. And the Hittites, and the Jebusites, 
and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains. And 
the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast 
of Jordan." 

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and 
said, ''Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we 
are well able to overcome it." 

But the men that went up with him said, "We 
be not able to go up against the people; for they 
are stronger than we." 

And they brought up an evil report of the land 
which they had searched unto the children of 
Israel, saying, " The land, through which we have 
gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the in- 
habitants thereof; and all the people that we saw 
in it are men of a great stature. And there we 
saw the giants, the sons of Anak. And we were in 
our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in 
their sight." 

Numbers, 13 

HOW THE PEOPLE REPROACHED 
GOD AND WERE PUNISHED 

And all the congregation lifted up their voice, 

.nd cried; and the people wept that night. And 

all the children of Israel murmured against Moses 

and against Aaron: and the whole congregation 

said unto them, "Would God that we had died in 



THE PEOPLE REPROACH GOD 165 

the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in 
this wilderness! And wherefore hath the Lord 
brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, 
that our wives and our children should be a prey? 
were it not better for us to return into Egypt?" 
And they said one to another, "Let us make a 
captain, and let us return into Egypt." 

Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces be- 
fore all the assembly of the congregation of the 
children of Israel. 

And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son 
of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched 
the land, rent their clothes. And they spake unto 
all the company of the children of Israel, saying, 
"The land, which we passed through to search it, 
is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in 
us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it 
us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. 
Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear 
ye the people of the land; for they are bread for 
us : their defence is departed from them, and the 
Lord is with us: fear them not." 

But all the congregation bade stone them with 
stones. And the glory of the Lord appeared in the 
tabernacle of the congregation before all the chil- 
dren of Israel. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, " How long will 
this people provoke me? and how long will it be 
ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have 



166 BIBLE STORIES 

shewed among them? I will smite them with the 
pestilenge, and disinherit them, and will make of 
thee a greater nation and mightier than they." 

And Moses said unto the Lord, "Then the 
Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up 
this people in thy might from among them;) and 
they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land : for 
they have heard that thou Lord art among this 
people, that thou Lord art seen face to face, and 
that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou 
goest before them, by daytime in a pillar of a 
cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night. 

"Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one 
man, then the nations which have heard the fame 
of thee will speak, saying, ' Because the Lord was 
not able to bring this people into the land which 
he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them 
in the wilderness.' 

"And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my 
Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, 
saying, 'The Lord is longsuffering, and of great 
mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and 
by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the in- 
iquity of the fathers upon the children unto the 
third and fourth generation.' 

"Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this 
people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, 
and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt 
even until now." 



THE PEOPLE REPROACH GOD 167 

And the Lord said, " I have pardoned according 
to thy word. But as truly as I live, all the earth 
shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. 

"Because all those men which have seen my 
glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and 
in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these 
ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; 
surely they shall not see the land which I sware 
unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that 
provoked me see it. But my servant Caleb, be- 
cause he had another spirit with him, and hath 
followed me fully, him will I bring into the land 
whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. 
To morrow turn you, and get you into the wilder- 
ness by the way of the Red sea." 

And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto 
Aaron, saying, "How long shall I bear with this 
evil congregation, which murmur against me.^^ I 
have heard the murmurings of the children of 
Israel, which they murmur against me. Say unto 
them, * As truly as I live,' saith the Lord, * as ye 
have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you. 
Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness; and all 
that were numbered of you, according to your 
whole number, from twenty years old and up- 
ward, which have murmured against me. Doubt- 
less ye shall not come into the land, concerning 
which I sware to make you dwell therein, save 
Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son 



168 BIBLE STORIES 

of Nun. But your little ones, which ye said 
should he a prey, them will I bring in, and they 
shall know the land which ye have despised. But 
as for you, your carcasses, they shall fall in this 
wilderness. And your children shall wander in 
the wilderness forty years, until your carcasses be 
wasted in the wilderness. After the number of the 
days in which ye searched the land, even forty 
days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your in- 
iquities, even forty years.' " 

Numbers, 14 

Read *'What Happened to the Men Who Brought the False 
Report/' Numbers, chap, li, verses 36-^5; also " The Strange 
Fire/' Leviticus, chap. 10, verses 1-7; ''How the Earth Swal- 
lowed Korah and his Men," Numbers, chap, 16; and chap. 26, 
verses 9-11; "How Aaron's Rod Grew Almonds/' Numbers^ 
chap. 17 

HOW MOSES DISOBEYED GOD 

Then came the children of Israel, even the 
whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the 
first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and 
Miriam died there, and was buried there. 

And there was no water for the congregation: 
and they gathered themselves together against 
Moses and against Aaron. 

And the people chode with Moses, and spake, 
saying, " Would God that we had died when our 
brethren died before the Lord ! And why have ye 



HOW MOSES DISOBEYED GOD 169 

brought up the congregation of the Lord into this 
wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? 
And wherefore have ye made us to come up out 
of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it 
is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of 
pomegranates; neither is there any water to 
drink." 

And Moses and Aaron went from the presence 
of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of 
the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: 
and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, " Take 
the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, 
thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto 
the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth 
his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them 
water out of the rock. So thou shalt give the con- 
gregation and their beasts drink." 

And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, 
as he commanded him. And Moses and Aaron 
gathered the congregation together before the 
rock, and he said unto them, " Hear now, ye reb- 
els; must we fetch you water out of this rock?" 

And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod 
he smote the rock twice. And the water came out 
abundantly, and the congregation drank, and 
their beasts also. 

And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, 
"Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in 



170 BIBLE STORIES 

the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye 
shall nqt bring this congregation into the land 
which I have given them." 

This is the water of Meribah; because the chil- 
dren of Israel strove with the Lord, and he was 
sanctified in them. 

Numbers, 20 

For stories about ^'The Rock'' read: *'He Is the Rocky'* 
Deuteronomy, chap. 32; " The House on the Rock," Matthew^ 
chap. 7, verses 24--29; " The Rock of Ages," Matthew, chap. 
16, verses 13-20; and chap. 18, verses 18-20, 1 Peter, chap. 2; 
** The Spiritual Rock," 1 Corinthians, chap. 10, verses 1-6 

THE FIERY SERPENTS 

And they jom*neyed from mount Hor by the 
way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom : 
and the soul of the people was much discouraged 
because of the way. And the people spake against 
God, and against Moses, "Wherefore have ye 
brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilder- 
ness? for there is no bread, neither is there 
any water; and our soul loatheth this light 
bread." 

And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the 
people, and they bit the people; and much people 
of Israel died. 

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, 
"We have sinned, for we have spoken against the 
Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that 



BALAAM'S ASS THAT SPOKE 171 

he take away the serpents from us." And Moses 
prayed for the people. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, "Make thee a 
fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall 
come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when 
he looketh upon it shall live." 

And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it 
upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent 
had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent 
of brass, he lived. 

Numbers, 21 

For more about the Brazen Serpent, read: "What Happened 
to the Serpent,'' 2 Kings, chap. 18, verses 1-6; also, ''As Moses 
Lifted up the Serpent," John, chap. 3, verses llt.-21 



BALAAM'S ASS THAT SPOKE 

And the children of Israel set forward, and 
pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan 
by Jericho. 

And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel 
had done to the Amorites. And Moab was sore 
afraid of the people, because they were many: 
and Moab was distressed because of the children 
of Israel. And Moab said unto the elders of Mid- 
ian, "Now shall this company lick up all that are 
round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of 
the field." 
' And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the 



172 BIBLE STORIES 

Moabites at that time. He sent messengers there- 
fore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, 
which is by the river of the land of the children of 
his people, to call him, saying, "Behold, there is a 
people come out from Egypt. Behold, they cover 
the face of the earth, and they abide over against 
me. Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me 
this people; for they are too mighty for me. Per- 
ad venture I shall prevail, that we may smite 
them, and that I may drive them out of the land. 
For I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, 
and he whom thou cursest is cursed." 

And the elders of Moab and the elders of Mid- 
ian departed with the rewards of divination in 
their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and 
spake unto him the words of Balak. And he said 
unto them, " Lodge here this night, and I will 
bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto 
me." And the princes of Moab abode with 
Balaam. 

And God came unto Balaam, and said, "What 
men are these with thee.^ " 

And Balaam said unto God, "Balak the son of 
Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, 
* Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, 
which covereth the face of the earth. Come now, 
curse me them. Peradventure I shall be able to 
overcome them, and drive them out.'" 

And God said unto Balaam, "Thou shalt not 



BALAAM'S ASS THAT SPOKE 173 

go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: 
for they are blessed." 

And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said 
unto the princes of Balak, "Get you into your 
land : for the Lord ref useth to give me leave to go 
with you." And the princes of Moab rose up, and 
they went unto Balak, and said, " Balaam re- 
fuseth to come with us." 

And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and 
more honourable than they. And they came to 
Balaam, and said to him, "Thus saith Balak the 
son of Zippor, *Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder 
thee from coming unto me. For I will promote 
thee unto very great honour, and I will do what- 
soever thou sayest unto me. Come therefore, I 
pray thee, curse me this people.'" 

And Balaam answered and said unto the serv- 
ants of Balak, "If Balak would give me his 
house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond, 
the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. 
Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this 
night, that I may know what the Lord will say 
unto me more." 

And God came unto Balaam at night, and said 
unto him, "If the men come to call thee, rise up, 
and go with them; but yet the word which I shall 
say unto thee, that shalt thou do." 

And Balaam rose up in the morning, and sad- 
dled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. 



174 BIBLE STORIES 

And God's anger was kindled because he went. 
And the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an 
adversary against him. Now he was riding upon 
his ass, and his two servants were with him. 
And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in 
the way, and his sword drawn in his hand. And the 
ass turned aside out of the way, and went into 
the field. And Balaam smote the ass, to turn her 
into the way. 

But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the 
vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on 
that side. And when the ass saw the angel of the 
Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed 
Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her 
again. 

And the angel of the Lord went further, and 
stood in a narrow place, where was no way to 
turn either to the right hand or to the left. And 
when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell 
down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was 
kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. 

And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and 
she said unto Balaam, "What have I done unto 
thee, that thou hast smitten me these three 
times? " And Balaam said unto the ass, "Because 
thou hast mocked me. I would there were a sword 
in mine hand, for now would I kill thee." And 
the ass said unto Balaam, "Am not I thine ass, 
upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was 



BALAAM'S ASS THAT SPOKE 175 

thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto 
thee?" And he said, "Nay." 

Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and 
he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, 
and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed 
down his head, and fell flat on his face. 

And the angel of the Lord said unto him, 
** Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these 
three times? Behold, I went out to withstand 
thee, because thy way is perverse before me. And 
the ass saw me, and turned from me these three 
times. Unless she had turned from me, surely 
now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive." 

And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, ** I 
have sinned ; for I knew not that thou stoodest in 
the way against me. Now therefore, if it displease 
thee, I will get me back again." 

And the angel of the Lord said unto Balaam, 
"Go with the men: but only the word that I shall 
speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak." So Ba- 
laam went with the princes of Balak. 

Numbers, 22 

For other stories about Balaam, read: "How Balaam Was 
Called to Curse Israel," Numbers, chap. 22, verses 36-Jf.l, and 
chaps. 23 and 2Ji.; also " What Happened to Balaam," Num- 
bers, chap. 31, verses 1-8 



176 BIBLE STORIES 

SOME OF THE WORDS MOSES SPAKE 
TO ^ THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL 

Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; 
for ye saw no manner of simiKtude on the day 
that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of 
the midst of the fire: 

Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a 
graven image, the similitude of any figure, the 
likeness of male or female, the likeness of any 
beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any 
winged fowl that flieth in the air, the likeness of 
any thing that ereepeth on the ground, the like- 
ness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the 
earth. 

And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, 
and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and 
the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be 
driven to worship them, and serve them, which 
the Lord thy God hath divided unto all nations 
under the whole heaven. 

Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the 
covenant of the Lord your God, which he made 
with you, and make you a graven image, or the 
likeness of any thing, which the Lord thy God 
hath forbidden thee. 



THE WORDS OF MOSES 177 

For ask now of the days that are past, which 
were before thee, since the day that God created 
man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of 
heaven unto the other, whether there hath been 
any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been 
heard like it? 

Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking 
out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, 
and live? 

Or hath God assayed to go and take him a na- 
tion from the midst of another nation, by temp- 
tations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, 
and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out 
arm, and by great terrors, according to all that 
the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before 
your eyes? 

When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into 
the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath 
cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, 
and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the 
Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, 
and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and 
mightier than thou : and when the Lord thy God 
shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite 
them, and utterly destroy them ; thou shalt make 
no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto 
them. 

Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; 



178 BIBLE STORIES 

thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor 
his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For 
they will turn away thy son from following me, 
that they may serve other gods. So will the anger 
of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy 
thee suddenly. 

But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall de- 
stroy their altars, and break down their images, 
and cut down their groves, and burn their graven 
images with fire. 
• ..••••• . 

The land is defiled: therefore I do visit the in- 
iquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth 
out her inhabitants. Ye shall therefore keep my 
statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit 
any of these abominations; neither any of your 
own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth 
among you : (for all these abominations have the 
men of the land done, which were before you, and 
the land is defiled;) that the land spew not you 
out also, when ye defile it, as it spewed out the 
nations that were before you. 

For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy 
God : the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a 
special people unto himself, above all people that 
are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not 
set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye 
were more in number than any people; for ye 



THE WORDS OF MOSES 179 

were the fewest of all people. But because the 
Lord loved you, and because he would keep the 
oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath 
the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, 
and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, 
from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 

Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments 
which I command you this day, that ye may be 
strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye 
go to possess it; and that ye may prolong your days 
in the land, which the Lord sware unto your 
fathers to give unto them and to their seed, a land 
that floweth with milk and honey. 

For the land, whither thou goest in to possess 
it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye 
came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and 
wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs. 

But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a 
land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of 
the rain of heaven: a land which the Lord thy 
God careth for. The eyes of the Lord thy God are 
always upon it, from the beginning of the year 
even unto the end of the year. 

When thou art come unto the land which the 
Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and 
shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, " I will set a king 
over me, like as all the nations that are about me; " 



\ 



180 BIBLE STORIES 

thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, 
whom thQ Lord thy God shall choose. One from 
among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: 
thou may est not set a stranger over thee, which is 
not thy brother. But he shall not multiply horses 
to himself, nor cause the people to return to 
Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses : 
forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, "Ye 
shall henceforth return no more that way." 

Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that 
his heart turn not away. Neither shall he greatly 
multiply to himself silver and gold. 

And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne 
of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of 
this law in a book out of that which is before the 
priests the Levites. And it shall be with him, and 
he shall read therein all the days of his life: that 
he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all 
the words of this law and these statutes, to do 
them: that his heart be not lifted up above his 
brethren, and that he turn not aside from the 
commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: 
to the end that he may prolong his days in his 
kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of 
Israel. 

If thou wilt not observe to do all the words 
of this law that are written in this book, that 
thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, 



THE WORDS OF MOSES 181 

THE LORD THY GOD; then the Lord will 
make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of 
thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continu- 
ance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance. 

Moreover he will bring upon thee all the dis- 
eases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and 
they shall cleave unto thee. Also every sickness, 
and every plague, which is not written in the 
book of this law, them will the Lord bring upon 
thee, until thou be destroyed. And ye shall be 
left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of 
heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not 
obey the voice of the Lord thy God. 

And it shall come to pass, that as the Lord re- 
joiced over you to do you good, and to multiply 
you; so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy 
you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be 
plucked from ojff the land whither thou goest to 
possess it. And the Lord shall scatter thee among 
all people, from the one end of the earth even unto 
the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, 
which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, 
even wood and stone. 

And among these nations shalt thou find no 
ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: 
but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling 
heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind. 
And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and 
thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have 



182 BIBLE STORIES 

none assurance of thy life. In the morning thou 
shalt say, "Would God it were even!" and at 
even thou shalt say, " Would God it were morn- 
ing!" for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou 
shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which 
thou shalt see. 

And it shall come to pass, when all these things 
are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, 
which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call 
them to mind among all the nations, whither the 
Lord thy God hath driven thee, and shalt return 
unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice 
according to all that I command thee this day, 
thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and 
with all thy soul; that then the Lord thy God 
will turn thy captivity, and have compassion 
upon thee, and will return and gather thee from 
all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath 
scattered thee. If any of thine be driven out unto 
the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the 
Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will 
he fetch thee. 

And the Lord thy God will bring thee into the 
land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt 
possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply 
thee above thy fathers. And the Lord thy God 
will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy 
seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine 



THE WORDS OF MOSES 183 

heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest 
live. 

And the Lord thy God will put all these curses 
upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, 
which persecuted thee. And thou shalt return 
and obey the voice of the Lord, and do all his 
commandments which I command thee this day. 

Behold, I have taught you statutes and judg- 
ments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, 
that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to 
possess it. 

Keep therefore and do them; for this is your 
wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the 
nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and 
say, " Surely this great nation is a wise and under- 
standing people." 

For what nation is there so great, who hath 
God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in 
all things that we call upon him for.^^ And what 
nation is there so great, that» hath statutes and 
judgments so righteous as all this law, which I 
set before you this day.^ 

For this commandment which I command thee 
this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it 
far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest 
say, " Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring 
it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?'* 



184 BIBLE STORIES 

Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest 
say, **Who shall go over the sea for us, and 
bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do 
it?" 

But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy 
mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest 
do it. 

And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God 
require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to 
walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve 
the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all 
thy soul, to keep the commandments of the Lord, 
and his statutes, which I command thee this day 
for thy good? 

Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens 
is the Lord's thy God, the earth also, with all 
that therein is. Only the Lord had a delight in 
thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed 
after them, even you above all people, as it is this 
day. 

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath 
are the everlasting arms. And he shall thrust out 
the enemy from before thee; and shall say, "De- 
stroy them." 

Israel then shall dwell in safety alone. The 
fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and 
wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew. 



THE BURIAL OF MOSES 185 

Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, 
O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy 
help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and 
thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and 
thou shalt tread upon their high places. 

Lev., 18; Deut., 4, 7, 10, 17, 28, 30, 33 



THE BURIAL OF MOSES 

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, **Get 
thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto* mount 
Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over 
against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, 
which I give unto the children of Israel for a pos- 
session. And die in the mount whither thou goest 
up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron 
thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered 
unto his people. Because ye trespassed against 
me among the children of Israel at the waters of 
Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; be- 
cause ye sanctified me not in the midst of the 
children of Israel. Yet thou shalt see the land 
before thee; but thou shalt not go thither unto 
the land which I give the children of Israel." 

And Moses went up from the plains of Moab 
unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, 
that is over against Jericho. And the Lord 
shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan, and 
all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Ma- 



186 BIBLE STORIES 

nasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost 
sea, and the south, and the plain of the valley of 
Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar. 

And the Lord said unto him, " This is the land 
which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and 
unto Jacob, saying, 'I will give it unto thy seed/ 
I have caused thee to see it with thine ^eyes, but 
thou shalt not go over thither." 

So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in 
the land of Moab, according to the word of the 
Lord. And he buried him in a valley in the land 
of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man 
knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. 

And Moses was an hundred and twenty years 
old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his 
natural force abated. 

And the children of Israel wept for Moses in 
the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of 
weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. 

And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the 
spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands 
upon him. And the children of Israel hearkened 
unto him, and did as the Lord commanded 
Moses. 

And there arose not a prophet since in Israel 
like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 
in all the signs and the wonders, which the Lord 
sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, 
and to all his servants, and to all his land, and in 



THE BURIAL OF MOSES 187 

all that mighty hand,, and in all the great terror 
which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel. 

Deuteronomy, 32, 34 

Read also, ** How Aaron Died in Mount Hor," Numbers, 
chap. 20, verses 22-29. For more about Moses, read : " The 
God of the Living,'' Mark, chap. 12, verses 18-27; " The 
Transfiguration,*' Matthew, chap. 17, verses 1-9, Luke, chap. 
9, verses 28-36 



Q^hr^fotitsrdW 



And the Lord said unto Abram, *'Lift up now thine eyes, and 
look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, 
and eastward, and westward. For all the land which thou seest, 
to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I vnll make 
thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the 
dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.'' 

''And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, 
and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing. And I 
will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: 
and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.'* 

Genesis, 12, 13 



THE SCARLET THREAD IN THE 
WINDOW 

ND Joshua the son of Nun sent out of 

Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, 

"Go view the land, even Jericho." And 

they went, and came into a woman's house, 

named Rahab, and lodged there. 

And it was told the king of Jericho, say- 
ing, " Behold, there came men in hither to night of 
the children of Israel to search out the country." 
And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, say- 
ing, " Bring forth the men that are come to thee, 
which are entered into thine house: for they be 
come to search out all the country." 

And the woman took the two men, and hid 
them, and said thus, "There came men unto me, 
but I wist not whence they were. And it came to 
pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when 
it was dark, that the men went out : Whither the 
men went I wot not. Pursue after them quickly; 
for ye shall overtake them." 

But she had brought them up to the roof of the 
house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which 
she had laid in order upon the roof. And the men 
pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the 
fords. And as soon as they which pursued after 
them were gone out, they shut the gate. ' 



192 BIBLE STORIES 

And before they were laid down, she came up 
unto them upon the roof. And she said unto the 
men, "I know that the Lord hath given you the 
land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and 
that all the inhabitants of the land faint because 
of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up 
the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came 
out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings 
of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jor- 
dan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. 
And as soon as we had heard these things, our 
hearts did melt, neither did there remain any 
more courage in any man, because of you : for the 
Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in 
earth beneath. 

" Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by 
the Lord, since I have shewed you kindness, that 
ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, 
and give me a true token: and that ye will save 
alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, 
and my sisters, and all that they have, and de- 
liver our lives from death." 

And the men answered her, "Our life for your's 
if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, 
when the Lord hath given us the land, that we 
will deal kindly and truly with thee.*' 

Then she let them down by a cord through the 
window: for her house was upon the town wall, 
and she' dwelt upon the wall. And she said unto 



SCARLET THREAD IN THE WINDOW 193 

them, "Get you to the mountain, lest the pur- 
suers meet you; and hide yourselves there three 
days, until the pursuers be returned: and after- 
ward may ye go your way." 

And the men said unto her, ** We will be blame- 
less of this thine oath which thou hast made us 
swear. Behold, when we come into the land, thou 
shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window 
which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt 
bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy breth- 
ren, and all thy father's household, home unto 
thee. And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out 
of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood 
shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: 
and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his 
blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon 
him. And if thou utter this our business, then we 
will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us 
to swear." 

And she said, "According unto your words, so be 
it." And she sent them away, and they departed. 
And she bound the scarlet line in the window. 

And they went, and came unto the mountain, 
and abode there three days, until the pursuers 
were returned: and the pursuers sought them 
throughout all the way, but found them not. 

So the two men returned, and descended from 
the mountain, and passed over, and came to 
Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things 



194 BIBLE STORIES 

that befell them. And they said unto Joshua, 
"Truly the Lord hath delivered into our hands 
all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the 
country do faint because of us." 

Joshua, 2 

Read **How the Waves of Jordan Fled Before the Ark of the 
Lord,'' Joshua, chaps. 3 and 4 



WHY THE WALLS OF JERICHO FELL 
DOWN FLAT 

And it came to pass, when Joshua was by 
Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, 
behold, there stood a man over against him with 
his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went 
unto him, and said unto him, " Art thou for us, or 
for our adversaries?" 

And he said, "Nay; but as captain of the host 
of the Lord am I now come." 

And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and 
did worship, and said unto him, " What saith my 
lord unto his servant? " 

And the captain of the Lord's host said unto 
Joshua, "Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for 
the place whereon thou standest is holy." And 
Joshua did so. 

And Jericho was straitly shut up because of the 
children of Israel. None went out, and none came 
in. 



THE WALLS OF JERICHO 195 

And the Lord said unto Joshua, "See, I have 
given into thine hand Jericho, and the king there- 
of, and the mighty men of valour. And ye shall 
compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round 
about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. 
And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven 
trumpets of rams' horns. And the seventh day ye 
shall compass the city seven times, and the priests 
shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come 
to pass, that when they make a long blast with 
the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of 
the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a 
great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall 
down flat, and the people shall ascend up every 
man straight before him." 

And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, 
and said unto them, " Take up the ark of the 
covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trum- 
pets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord." 
And he said unto the people, *'Pass on, and com- 
pass the city, and let him that is armed pass on 
before the ark of the Lord." 

And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken 
unto the people, that the seven priests bearing 
the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on be- 
fore the Lord, and blew with the trumpets: and 
the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed 
them. 

And the armed men went before the priests that 



196 BIBLE STORIES 

blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came 
after the^ark, the priests going on, and blowing 
with the trumpets. And Joshua had commanded - 
the people, saying, "Ye shall not shout, nor make 
any noise with your voice, neither shall any word 
proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid 
you shout; then shall ye shout." So the ark of the 
Lord compassed the city, going about it oncet 
and they came into the camp, and lodged in the 
camp. 

And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the 
priests took up the ark of the Lord. And seven 
priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns be- 
fore the ark of the Lord went on continually, and 
blew with the trumpets: and the armed men 
went before them; but the rereward came after 
the ark of the Lord, the priests going on, and blow- 
ing with the trumpets. And the second day they 
compassed the city once, and returned into the 
camp: so they did six days. 

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that 
they rose early about the dawning of the day, and 
compassed the city after the same manner seven 
times : only on that day they compassed the city 
seven times. 

And it came to pass at the seventh time, when 
the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said 
unto the people, ** Shout; for the Lord hath given 
you the city. And the city shall be accursed, even 



THE WALLS OF JERICHO 197 

it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: only 
Rahab shall live, she and all that are with her in 
the house, because she hid the messengers that we 
sent. And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from 
the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves ac- 
cursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and 
make _the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 
But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass 
and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they 
shall come into the treasury of the Lord." 

So the people shouted when the priests blew 
with the trumpets. And it came to pass, when 
the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and 
the people shouted with a great shout, that the 
wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into 
the city, every man straight before him, and they 
took the city. And they utterly destroyed all that 
was in the city, both man and woman, young and 
old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of 
the sword. 

But Joshua had said unto the two men that had 
spied out the country, *'Go into Rahab's house, 
and bring out thence the woman, and all that she 
hath, as ye sware unto her." 

And the young men that were spies went in, 
and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her 
mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; 
and they brought out all her kindred, and left 
them without the camp of Israel. 



198 BIBLE STORIES 

And they burnt the city with fire, and all that 
was therein : only the silver, and the gold, and the 
vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the 
treasury of the house of the Lord. 

And Joshua saved Rahab alive, and her father's 
household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth 
in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the 
messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. 

And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, 
** Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth 
up and buildeth this city Jericho : he shall lay the 
foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his 
youngest son shall he set up the gates of it." ^ 

So the Lord was with Joshua; and his fame was 
noised throughout all the country. 

Joshua, 5, 6 

Some other interesting stories are, ''How Achan stole the 
Babylonish Garment and Treasure,*' Joshua, chap. 7; and 
*'The Taking of the Wicked City of Ai,'' Joshua, chap. 8 

THE CRAFTY GIBEONITES 

And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard 
what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, 
they did work wilily, and went and made as if 
they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks 
upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, 
and bound up; and old shoes and clouted upon 

1 See page 311. 



THE CRAFTY GIBEONITES 199 

their feet, and old garments upon them; and all 
the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy. 
And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gil- 
gal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, 
"We be come from a far country: now therefore 
make ye a league with us." And the men of Israel 
said unto the Hivites, " Per ad venture ye dwell 
among us; and how shall we make a league with 

you?" 

And they said unto Joshua, "We are thy serv- 
ants." And Joshua said unto them, " Who are ye? 
and from whence come ye?" 

And they said unto him, "From a very far 
country thy servants are come because of the 
name of the Lord thy God. For we have heard 
the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, 
and all that he did to the two kings of the Amor- 
ites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of 
Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was 
at Ashtaroth. Wherefore our elders and all the 
inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, 
*Take victuals with you for the journey, and go 
to meet them, and say unto them, " We are your 
servants: therefore now make ye a league with 
us."' 

" This our bread we took hot for our provision 
out of our houses on the day we came forth to go 
unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is 
mouldy. And these bottles of wine, which we 



200 BIBLE STORIES 

filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent. And 
these our garments and our shoes are become old 
by reason of the very long journey." 

And the men took of their victuals, and asked 
not counsel at the mouth of the Lord. And Joshua 
made peace with them, and made a league with 
them, to let them live: and the princes of the 
congregation sware unto them. 

And it came to pass at the end of three days 
after they had made a league with them, that they 
heard that they were their neighbours, and that 
they dwelt among them. 

And the children of Israel journeyed, and came 
unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities 
were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and 
Kirjath-jearim. And the children of Israel smote 
them not, because the princes of the congregation 
had sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel. 
And all the congregation murmured against the 
princes. 

But all the princes said unto all the congrega- 
tion, *'We have sworn unto them by the Lord 
God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch 
them. This we will do to them; we will even let 
them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the 
oath which we sware unto them." And the 
princes said unto them, "Let them live; but let 
them be hewers of wood and drawers of water 
unto all the congregation." 



THE CRAFTY GIBEONITES 201 

And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto 
them, saying, "Wherefore have ye beguiled us, 
saying, ' We are very far from you;' when ye 
dwell among us? Now therefore ye are cursed, and 
there shall none of you be freed from being bond- 
men, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for 
the house of my God." 

J And they answered Joshua, and said, "Because 
it was certainly told thy servants, how that the 
Lord thy God commanded his servant Moses to 
give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhab- 
itants of the land from before you, therefore we 
were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and 
have done this thing. And now, behold, we are in 
thine hand. As it seemeth good and right unto 
thee to do unto us, do." 

^ And so did he unto them, and delivered them 
out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they 
slew them not. And Joshua made them that day 
hewers of wood and drawers of water for the con- 
gregation, and for the altar of the Lord, even unto 
this day, in the place which he should choose. 

Joshua, 9 

Other stories of battle are, ''The Battle with the Five Kings of 
the Amorites," Joshua, chap. 10; " The Hosts of the Many 
Kings," Joshua, chap. 11 



202 BIBLE STORIES 

JOSHUA'S FAREWELL 

And it came to pass a long time after that the 
Lord had given rest unto Israel from all their 
enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and 
stricken in age. 

And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their 
elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, 
and for their officers, and said unto them, "I am 
old and stricken in age. And ye have seen all that 
the Lord your God hath done unto all these na- 
tions because of you; for the Lord your God is he 
that hath fought for you. 

"Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these 
nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your 
tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I 
have cut off, even unto the great sea westward. 
And the Lord your God, he shall expel them from 
before you, and drive them from out of your sight; 
and ye shall possess their land, as the Lord your 
God hath promised unto you. 

"Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and 
to do all that is written in the book of the law of 
Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the 
right hand or to the left; that ye come not among 
these nations, these that remain among you; 
neither make mention of the name of their gods, 
nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, 
nor bow yourselves unto them: but cleave unto 



JOSHUA'S FAREWELL 203 

the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this 
day. 

"For the Lord hath driven out from before you 
great nations and strong : but as for you, no man 
hath been able to stand before you unto this day. 
One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the 
Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he 
hath promised you. 

"Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, 
that ye love the Lord your God. Else if ye do in 
any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of 
these nations, even these that remain among you, 
and shall make marriages with them, and go in 
unto them, and they to you : know for a certainty 
that the Lord your God will no more drive out 
any of these nations from before you; but they 
shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges 
in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye 
perish from off this good land which the Lord 
your God hath given you. 

"And, behold, this day I am going the way of 
all the earth. And ye know in all your hearts and 
in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of 
all the good things which the Lord your God 
spake concerning you. All are come to pass unto 
you, and not one thing hath failed thereof. 

"Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all 
good things are come upon you, which the Lord 
your God promised you; so shall the Lord bring 



204 BIBLE STORIES 

upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed 
you from off this good land which the Lord your 
God hath given you. When ye have transgressed 
the covenant of the Lord your God, which he 
commanded you, and have gone and served other 
gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall 
the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, 
and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land 
which he hath given unto you. 

"Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him 
in sincerity and in truth ; and put away the gods 
which your fathers served on the other side of the 
flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And 
if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose 
you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods 
which your fathers served that were on the other 
side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in 
whose land ye dwell : but as for me and my house, 
we will serve the Lord." 

And the people answered and said, " God forbid 
that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other 
gods; for the Lord our God, he it is that brought 
us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, 
from the house of bondage, and which did those 
great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all 
the way wherein we went, and among all the 
people through whom we passed. And the Lord 
drave out from before us all the people, even the 



JOSHUA'S FAEEWELL 205 

Amorites which dwelt in the land : therefore will 
we also serve the Lord; for he is our God." 

And Joshua said unto the people, "Ye cannot 
serve the Lord: for he is an holy God; he is a 
watchful God; he will not forgive your trans- 
gressions nor your sins. If ye forsake the Lord, 
and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do 
you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath 
done you good." 

And the people said unto Joshua, "Nay; but 
we will serve the Lord." 

And Joshua said unto the people, "Ye are 
witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen 
you the Lord, to serve him." And they said, "We 
are witnesses." "Now therefore put away," said 
he, "the strange gods which are among you, and 
incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel." 

And the people said unto Joshua, "The Lord 
our God will we serve, and his voice will we 
obey." 

So Joshua made a covenant with the people 
that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance 
in Shechem. 

And Joshua wrote these words in the book of 
the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it 
up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary 
of the Lord. And Joshua said unto all the people, 
"Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; 
for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which 



206 BIBLE STORIES 

he spake unto us. It shall be therefore a witness 
unto you, lest ye deny your God." 

So Joshua let the people depart, every man 
unto his inheritance. 

Joshua, 23, 24 



Wtir!IJat^5oJtlir|ttJj^C5 



Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, 
every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes. 

Deuteronomy, 12 

In those days there was no king in Israel, hut every man did 
that which was right in his own eyes. 

Judges, 17, 21 



I 




AND ISRAEL WORSHIPPED IDOLS 

ND there arose another generation after 
them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet 
the works which he had done for Israel. 
And the children of Israel did evil in the 
sight of the Lord, and served Baalim. And 
they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, 
which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and 
followed other gods, of the gods of the people 
that were round about them, and bowed them- 
selves unto them, and provoked the Lord to 
anger. And they forsook the Lord, and served 
Baal and Ashtaroth. 

And the anger of the Lord was hot against Is- 
rael, and he delivered them into the hands of 
spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into 
the hands of their enemies round about, so that 
they could not any longer stand before their ene- 
mies. Whithersoever they went out, the hand of 
the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord 
had said, and as the Lord had sworn unto them: 
and they were greatly distressed. 

Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges, which 
delivered them out of the hand of those that 
spoiled them. And yet they would not hearken 
unto their judges, but they went after other gods, 
and bowed themselves unto them. They turned 



£10 BIBLE STORIES 

quickly out of the way which their fathers walked 
in, obeying the commandments of the Lord; but 
they did not so. 

And when the Lord raised them up judges, 
then the Lord was with the judge, and delivered 
them out of the hand of their enemies all the days 
of the judge: for it repented the Lord because of 
their groanings by reason of them that oppressed 
them and vexed them. And it came to pass, 
when the judge was dead, that they returned, 
and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, 
in following other gods to serve them, and to bow 
down unto them; they ceased not from their own 
doings, nor from their stubborn way. 

And the anger of the Lord was hot against Is- 
rael; and he said, "Because that this people hath 
transgressed my covenant which I commanded 
their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my 
voice; I also will not henceforth drive out any from 
before them of the nations which Joshua left when 
he died. That through them I may prove Israel, 
whether they will keep the way of the Lord to 
walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not." 

Therefore the Lord left those nations, without 
driving them out hastily; neither delivered he 
them into the hand of Joshua. 

Judges, 2 

Other interesting stories are, "How Othniel Won His Bride,'' 
Judges, chap. 1, verses 9-15, chap. 2, and chap. 3, verses 1-11; 
** The Woman Judge,'' Judges^ chap. 4 and 5 



GIDEON'S FLEECE 211 

GIDEON'S FLEECE 

And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat 
under an oak which was in Ophrah, that per- 
tained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite : and his son 
Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide 
it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord 
appeared unto him, and said unto him, "The 
Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour." 

And Gideon said unto him, " O my Lord, if the 
Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? 
and where be all his miracles which our fathers 
told us of, saying, ' Did not the Lord bring us up 
from Egypt? ' but now the Lord hath forsaken us, 
and delivered us into the hands of the Midian- 
ites." 

And the Lord looked upon him, and said, "Go 
in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from 
the hand of the Midianites : have not I sent thee? " 

And he said unto him, "O my Lord, wherewith 
shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in 
Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's 
house." 

And the Lord said unto him, " Surely I will be 
with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as 
one man." 

Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites 
and the children of the east were gathered to- 



212 BIBLE STORIES 

gether, and went over, and pitched in the valley 
of JezreeJ. But the Spirit of the Lord came upon 
Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abi-ezer was 
gathered after him. And he sent messengers 
throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered 
after him. And he sent messengers unto Asher, 
and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they 
came up to meet them. 

And Gideon said unto God, "If thou wilt save 
Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, behold, I 
will put a fleece of wool on the threshing-floor; and 
if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon 
all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou 
wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said." 

And it was so : for he rose up early on the mor- 
row, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed 
the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. 

And Gideon said unto God, "Let not thine 
anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this 
once. Let me prove, I pray thee, but this once 
with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the 
fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew." 

And God did so that night : for it was dry upon 
the fleece only, and there was dew on all the 
ground. 

Judges, 6 

Read '* How Gideon Cast Down the Altar of Baal,'* Judges, 
chap. 6, verses 1-32 ' 



THE LORD AND GIDEON 213 

THE SWORD OF THE LORD AND OF 
GIDEON 

Then Gideon, and all the people that were 
with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the 
well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites 
were on the north side of them, by the hill of 
Moreh, in the valley. 

And the Lord said unto Gideon, "The people 
that are with thee are too many for me to give 
the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt 
themselves against me, saying, 'Mine own hand 
hath saved me.' Now therefore go to, proclaim in 
the ears of the people, saying, ' Whosoever is fear- 
ful and afraid, let him return and depart early 
from mount Gilead.'" 

And there returned of the people twenty and 
two thousand; and there remained ten thousand. 

And the Lord said unto Gideon, " The people 
are yet too many; bring them down unto the 
water, and I will try them for thee there: and it 
shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, *This shall 
go with thee,' the same shall go with thee; and of 
whomsoever I say unto thee, 'This shall not go 
with thee,' the same shall not go." 

So he brought down the people unto the water : 
and the Lord said unto Gideon, " Every one that 
lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog 
lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise 



214 BIBLE STORIES 

every one that boweth down upon his knees to 
drink." . 

And the number of them that lapped, putting 
their hand to their mouth, were three hundred 
men. But all the rest of the people bowed down 
upon their knees to drink water. 

And the Lord said unto Gideon, "By the three 
hundred men that lapped will I save you, and de- 
liver the Midianites into thine hand. And let all 
the other people go every man unto his place," 

So the people took victuals in their hand, and 
their trumpets : and he sent all the rest of Israel 
every man unto his tent, and retained those three 
hundred men: and the host of Midian was be- 
neath him in the valley. 

And it came to pass the same night, that the 
Lord said unto him, "Arise, get thee down unto 
the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand. 
But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah 
thy servant down to the host. And thou shalt 
hear what they say; and afterward shall thine 
hands be strengthened to go down unto the host." 

Then went he down with Phurah his servant 
unto the outside of the armed men that were in 
the host. And the Midianites and the Amalekites 
and all the children of the east lay along in the 
valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their 
camels were without number, as the sand by the 
sea side for multitude. 



THE LORD AND GIDEON 215 

And when Gideon was come, behold, there was 
a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, 
"Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of 
barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, 
and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and 
overturned it, that the tent lay along." 

And his fellow answered and said, "This is 
nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of 
Joash, a man of Israel. For into his hand hath 
God delivered Midian, and all the host." 

And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of 
the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he 
worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, 
and said, "Arise; for the Lord hath delivered into 
your hand the host of Midian." 

And he divided the three hundred men into 
three companies, and he put a trumpet in every 
man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps 
within the pitchers. And he said unto them, 
" Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when 
I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, 
as I do, so shall ye do. When I blow with a 
trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow 
ye the trumpets also on every side of all the 
camp, and say, 'The sword of the Lord, and of 
Gideon.' " 

So Gideon, and the hundred men that were 
with him, came unto the outside of the camp in 
the beginning of the middle watch; and they had 



216 BIBLE STORIES 

but newly set the watch. And they blew the 
trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in 
their hands. 

And the three companies blew the trumpets, 
and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in 
their left hands, and the trumpets in their right 
hands to blow withal. And they cried, "The 
sword of the Lord, and of Gideon ! " 

And they stood every man in his place round 
about the camp. And all the host ran, and cried, 
and fled. 

And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and 
the Lord set every man's sword against his fel- 
low, even throughout all the host: and the host 
fled. And the men of Israel gathered themselves 
together and pursued after the Midianites. 

And Gideon sent messengers throughout all 
mount Ephraim, saying, "Come down against 
the Midianites, and take before them the waters 
unto Beth-barah and Jordan." Then all the men 
of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and 
took the waters unto Beth-barah and Jordan. 
And they took two princes of the Midianites, 
Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the 
rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of 
Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads 
of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side 
Jordan. 



JEPHTHAH'S DAUGHTER 217 

Thus was Midian subdued before the children 
of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no 
more. And the country was in quietness forty 
years in the days of Gideon. 

And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was 
dead, that the children of Israel turned again 
after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god. 
And the children of Israel remembered not the 
Lord their God, who had delivered them out of 
the hands of all their enemies on every side. 

Neither shewed they kindness to the house of 
Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the 
goodness which he had shewed unto Israel. 

Judges, 7, 8 

Read also ''Why Gideon Taught the Men of Succotk vnth 
Thorns and Briers," Judges, chap. 8 

JEPHTHAH'S DAUGHTER 

Then the children of Ammon were gathered 
together, and encamped in Gilead. And the chil- 
dren of Israel assembled themselves together, and 
encamped in Mizpeh. And the people and princes 
of Gilead said one to another, " What man is he 
that will begin to fight against the children of 
Ammon .^ he shall be head over all the inhabitants 
of Gilead." 

Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man 
of valour. His brethren thrust out Jephthah, and 



218 BIBLE STORIES 

said unto him, "Thou shall not inherit in our 
father's* house." Then Jephthah fled from his 
brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and 
there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and 
went out with him. 

And it was so, that when the children of Am- 
mon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead 
went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob. 
And they said unto Jephthah, " Come, and be our 
captain, that we may fight with the children of 
Ammon." 

And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, 
"Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my 
father's house .^^ and why are ye come unto me 
now when ye are in distress .f^" 

And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, 
" Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou 
mayest go with us, and fight against the children 
of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhab- 
itants of Gilead." 

And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, 
" If ye bring me home again to fight against the 
children of Ammon, and the Lord deliver them 
before me, shall I be your head.f^ " 

And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, 
" The Lord be witness between us, if we do not so 
according to thy words." 

Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, 
and the people made him head and captain over 



JEPHTHAH'S DAUGHTER 219 

them. And Jephthah uttered all his words before 
the Lord in Mizpeh. Then the Spirit of the Lord 
came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, 
and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, 
and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto 
the children of Ammon. 

And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord, and 
said, "If thou shalt without fail deliver the chil- 
dren of Ammon into mine hands, then it shall be, 
that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my 
house to meet me, when I return in peace from 
the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, 
and I will offer it up for a burnt offering." 

So Jephthah passed over unto the children of 
Ammon to fight against them; and the Lord deliv- 
ered them into his hands. And he smote them 
from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even 
twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, 
with a very great slaughter. Thus the children 
of Ammon were subdued before the children of 
Israel. 

And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, 
and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him 
with timbrels and with dances. And she was his 
only child; beside her he had neither son nor 
daughter. And it came to pass, when he saw her, 
that he rent his clothes, and said, "Alas, my 
daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and 
thou art one of them that trouble me. For I have 



220 BIBLE STORIES 

opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go 
back." ^ 

And she said unto him, "My father, if thou 
hast opened thy mouth unto the Lord, do to me 
according to that which hath proceeded out of thy 
mouth; forasmuch as the Lord hath taken ven- 
geance for thee of thine enemies, even of the chil- 
dren of Ammon." And she said unto her father, 
"Let this thing be done for me. Let me alone two 
months, that I may go up and down upon the 
mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my 
fellows." And he said, "Go." And he sent her 
away for two months. And she went with her 
companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the 
mountains. And it came to pass at the end of two 
months, that she returned unto her father, who 
did with her according to his vow which he had 
vowed: and she never married. 

And it was a custom in Israel, that the daugh- 
ters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter 
of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year. 

Judges, 10, 11 

Read also ''The King of the Trees y' Judges, chap. 9 

SAMSON'S RIDDLE 

And the children of Israel did evil again in the 
sight of the Lord; and the Lord delivered them 
into the hand of the Philistines forty years. 



SAMSON'S RIDDLE 221 

And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the 
family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; 
and his wife bare a son, and called his name Sam- 
son. And the child grew, and the Lord blessed 
him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to move 
him at times in the camp of Dan. 

And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a 
woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philis- 
tines. And he came up, and told his father and his 
mother, and said, "I have seen a woman in Tim- 
nath of the daughters of the Philistines. Now 
therefore get her for me to wife." 

Then his father and his mother said unto him, 
"Is there never a woman among the daughters of 
thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou 
goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philis- 
tines.'^" And Samson said unto his father, "Get 
her for me; for she pleaseth me well." 

But his father and his mother knew not that 
it was of the Lord, that he sought an occasion 
against the Philistines : for at that time the Philis- 
tines had dominion over Israel. 

Then went Samson down, and his father and 
his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vine- 
yards of Timnath. And, behold, a young lion 
roared against him. And the Spirit of the Lord 
came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he 
would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his 
hand. But he told not his father or his mother 



g22 BIBLE STORIES 

what he had done. And he went down, and talked 
with thevWoman; and she pleased Samson well. 

And after a time he returned to take her, and 
he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion. 
And, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey 
in the carcase of the lion. And he took thereof in 
his hands, and went on eating, and came to his 
father and mother, and he gave them, and they 
did eat. But he told not them that he had taken 
the honey out of the carcase of the lion. 

So his father went down unto the woman. And 
Samson made there a feast; for so used the young 
men to do. 

And it came to pass, when they saw him, that 
they brought thirty companions to be with him. 
And Samson said unto them, "I will now put 
forth a riddle unto you. If ye can certainly declare 
it me within the seven days of the feast, and find 
it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty 
change of garments. But if ye cannot declare 
it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and 
thirty change of garments." And they said unto 
him, "Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear 
it." 

And he said unto them, "Out of the eater came 
forth meat, and out of the strong came forth 
sweetness." And they could not in three days 
expound the riddle. 

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that 



SAMSON^S RIDDLE 223 

they said unto Samson's wife, "Entice thy hus- 
band, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest 
we burn thee and thy father's house with fire. 
Have ye called us to take that we have? is it 
not so?" 

And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, 
"Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not. 
Thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children 
of my people, and hast not told it me." And 
he said unto her, "Behold, I have not told it 
my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it 
thee.P" 

And she wept before him the seven days, while 
their feast lasted. And it came to pass on the 
seventh day, that he told her, because she lay 
sore upon him. And she told the riddle to the 
children of her people. 

And the men of the city said unto him on the 
seventh day before the sun went down, "What is 
sweeter than honey .^ and what is stronger than 
a lion.f^" And he said unto them, "If ye had not 
plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my 
riddle." 

And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and 
he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men 
of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of 
garments unto them which expounded the rid- 
dle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up 
to his father's house. 



224 BIBLE STORIES 

But Samson's wife was given to his companion, 
whom he had used as his friend. 

Judges, 14 

Read " How the Angel Appeared to Manoah and His Wife J* 
Judges, chap. 13 



*'WITH THE JAWBONE OF AN ASS, 
HEAPS UPON HEAPS!" 

Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in 
Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi. And the 
men of Judah said, "Why are ye come up against 
us?" And they answered, "To bind Samson are 
we come up, to do to him as he hath done to us." 

Then three thousand men of Judah went to the 
top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, 
"Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers 
over us? what is this that thou hast done unto 
us?" And he said unto them, " As they did unto 
me, so have I done unto them." 

And they said unto him, "We are come down 
to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the 
hand of the Philistines." And Samson said unto 
them, "Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon 
me yourselves." And they spake unto him, say- 
ing, "No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver 
thee into their hand. But surely we will not kill 
thee." And they bound him with two new cords, 
and brought him up from the rock. 



"WITH THE JAWBONE OF AN ASS" 225 

And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines 
shouted against him: and the Spirit of the Lord 
came mightily upon him, and the cords that were 
upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with 
fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands. And 
he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth 
his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men 
therewith. 

And Samson said, "With the jawbone of an 
ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have 
I slain a thousand men! " And it came to pass, 
when he had made an end of speaking, that he 
cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called 
that place Ramath-lehi (that is the Hill of the 
Jawbone) . 

And he was sore athirst, and called on the 
Lord, and said, "Thou hast given this great de- 
liverance: into the hand of thy servant: and now 
shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the 
uncircumcised.^ " 

But God clave an hollow place that was in the 
jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he 
had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived. 

And he judged Israel in the days of the Philis- 
tines twenty years. 

Judges, 15 

Read the story of " The Foxes and the Firebrands,'' Judges, 
chap. 15, verses 1-8 



226 BIBLE STORIES 

SAMSON THE MIGHTY AND THE 
^ GATE OF GAZA 

Then went Samson to Gaza. And it was told 
the Gazites, saying, "Samson is come hither." 
And they compassed him in, and laid wait for 
him all night in the gate of the city, and were 
quiet all the night, saying, "In the morning, when 
it is day, we shall kill him." 

And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at 
midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the 
city, and the two posts, and went away with 
them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoul- 
derSj and carried them up to the top of an hill 
that is before Hebron. 

Judges, 16 



"THE PHILISTINES BE UPON THEE, 

SAMSON!" 

And it came to pass afterward, that he loved 
a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was 
Delilah. And the lords of the Philistines came up 
unto her, and said unto her, "Entice him, and see 
wherein his great strength lieth, and by what 
means we may prevail against him, that we may 
bind him to afflict him. And we will give thee 
every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver." 

And Delilah said to Samson, "Tell me, I pray 



SAMSON AND THE PHILISTINES 227 

thee, wherein thy great strength Heth, and where- 
with thou mightest be bound to afflict thee." And 
Samson said unto her, "If they bind me with 
seven green withs that were never dried, then 
shall I be weak, and be as another man." 

Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to 
her seven green withs which had not been dried, 
and she bound him with them. Now there were 
men lying in wait, abiding with her in the cham- 
ber. And she said unto him, "The Philistines be 
upon thee, Samson! " And he brake the withs, as 
a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the 
fire. So his strength was not known. 

And Delilah said unto Samson, "Behold, thou 
hast mocked me, and told me lies. Now tell me, I 
pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound." 
And he said unto her, "If they bind me fast with 
new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I 
be weak, and be as another man." 

Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound 
him therewith, and said unto him, "The Philis- 
tines be upon thee, Samson!" And there were 
Hers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he 
brake them from off his arms like a thread. 

And Delilah said unto Samson, "Hitherto thou 
hast mocked me, and told me lies. Tell me where- 
with thou mightest be bound." And he said unto 
her, "If thou weavest the seven locks of my 
head with the web." 



228 BIBLE STORIES 

And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto 
him, **The Philistines be upon thee, Samson!" 
And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away 
with the pin of the beam, and with the web. 

And she said unto him, **How canst thou say, 
*I love thee,' when thine heart is not with me? 
thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast 
not told me wherein thy great strength lieth." 

And it came to pass, when she pressed him 
daily with her words, and urged him, so that his 
soul was vexed unto death; that he told her all 
his heart, and said unto her, "There hath not 
come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a 
Nazarite unto God from my birth. If I be shaven, 
then my strength will go from me, and I shall be- 
come weak, and be like any other man." 

And when Delilah saw that he had told her all 
his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the 
Philistines, saying, "Come up this once, for he 
hath shewed me all his heart." Then the ords of 
the Philistines came up unto her, and brought 
money in their hand. 

And she made him sleep upon her knees; and 
she called for a man, and she caused him to shave 
off the seven locks of his head. And she began to 
afflict him, and his strength went from him. And 
she said, "The Philistines be upon thee, Samson ! " 
And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, " I will go 
out as at other times before, and shake myself." 



SAMSON AND THE PHILISTINES 229 

And he wist not that the Lord was departed from 
him. 

But the Philistines took him, and put out his 
eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound 
him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the 
prison house. 

Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow 
again after he was shaven. 

Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them 
together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon 
their god, and to rejoice: for they said, "Our god 
hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand." 
And when the people saw him, they praised their 
god: for they said, "Our god hath delivered into 
our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our 
country, which slew many of us." 

And it came to pass, when their hearts were 
merry, that they said, "Call for Samson, that he 
may make us sport." And they called for Samson 
out of the prison house; and he made them sport. 
And they set him between the pillars. 

And Samson said unto the lad that held him by 
the hand, "Suffer me that I may feel the pillars 
whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean 
upon them." Now the house was full of men and 
women; and all the lords of the Philistines were 
there; and there were upon the roof about three 
thousand men and women, that beheld while 
Samson made sport. 



,^30 BIBLE STORIES 

And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, 
"O Lord .God, remember me, I pray thee, and 
strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O 
God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philis- 
tines for my two eyes." 

And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars 
upon which the house stood, and on which it was 
borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the 
other with his left. And Samson said, " Let me die 
with the Philistines." And he bowed himself with 
all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, 
and upon all the people that were therein. So the 
dead which he slew at his death were more than 
they which he slew in his life. 

Then his brethren and all the house of his 
father came down, and took him, and brought 
him up, and buried him between Zorah and Esh- 
taol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. 
And he judged Israel twenty years. 

Judges, 16 



THE GENTILE DAUGHTER 

Now it came to pass in the days when the 
judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. 
And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to 
sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, 
and his two sons. And the name of the man was 
Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and 



THE GENTILE DAUGHTER 231 

the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, 
Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And they 
came into the country of Moab, and continued 
there. 

And Ehmelech Naomi's husband died; and she 
was left, and her two sons. And they took them 
wives of the women of Moab ; the name of the one 
was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And 
they dwelled there about ten years. And Mahlon 
and Chilion died also both of them; and the wo- 
man was left of her two sons and her husband. 

Then she arose with her daughters in law, that 
she might return from the country of Moab: for 
she had heard in the country of Moab how that 
the Lord had visited his people in giving them 
bread. Wherefore she went forth out of the place 
where she was, and her two daughters in law with 
her; and they went on the way to return unto the 
land of Judah. 

And Naomi said unto her two daughters in 
law, " Go, return each to her mother's house. The 
Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with 
the dead, and with me. The Lord grant you that 
ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her 
husband." Then she kissed them; and they lifted 
up their voice, and wept. 

And they said unto her, "Surely we will return 
with thee unto thy people." 

And Naomi said, "Turn again, my daughters. 



232 BIBLE STORIES 

"Why will ye go with me? Turn again, my daugh- 
ters, go your way. It grieveth me much for your 
sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out 
against me." 

And they lifted up their voice, and wept again. 
And Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth 
clave unto her. 

And she said, "Behold, thy sister in law is gone 
back unto her people, and unto her gods. Return 
thou after thy sister in law." 

And Ruth said, " Intreat me not to leave thee, 
or to return from following after thee. For 
whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou 
lodgest, I will lodge. Thy people shall be my peo- 
ple, and thy God my God. Where thou diest, will 
I die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so 
to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee 
and me." 

When she saw that she was stedfastly minded 
to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. 
So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. 
And it came to pass, when they were come to 
Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about 
them, and they said, "Is this Naomi.f^" 

And she said unto them, "Call me not Naomi, 
(meaning Pleasant) call me Mara, (that is, Bitter) : 
for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with 
me. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought 
me home again empty: why then call ye me 



RUTH IN THE FIELD OF BOAZ 233 

Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, 
and the Almighty hath afflicted me? " 

So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, 
her daughter in law, with her, which returned out 
of the country of Moab : and they came to Beth- 
lehem in the beginning of barley harvest. 

Ruth, 1 



HOW RUTH GLEANED IN THE 
FIELD OF BOAZ 

And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, 
a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elime- 
lech; and his name was Boaz. 

And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, 
"Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of 
corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace." 
And she said unto her, "Go, my daughter." 

And she went, and came, and gleaned in the 
field after the reapers. And her hap was to light 
on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who 
was of the kindred of Elimelech. And, behold, 
Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the 
reapers, "The Lord be with you." And they an- 
swered him, "The Lord bless thee." 

Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set 
over the reapers, "Whose damsel is this.^" 

And the servant that was set over the reapers 
answered and said, "It is the Moabitish damsel 



234 BIBLE STORIES 

that came back with Naomi out of the country of 
Moab.. And she said, *I pray you, let me glean 
and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.' 
So she came, and hath continued even from the 
morning until now, that she tarried a little in 
the house." 

Then said Boaz unto Ruth, "Hearest thou not, 
my daughter.^ Go not to glean in another field, 
neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my 
maidens. Let thine eyes be on the field that they 
do reap, and go thou after them. Have I not 
charged the young men that they shall not touch 
thee. 5^ And when thou art athirst, go unto the 
vessels, and drink of that which the young men 
have drawn." 

Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to 
the ground, and said unto him, "Why have I 
found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest 
take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger.^ " 

And Boaz answered and said unto her, "It hath 
fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done 
unto thy mother in law since the death of thine 
husband. And how thou hast left thy father and 
thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art 
come unto a people which thou knewest not here- 
tofore. The Lord recompense thy work, and a 
full reward be given thee of the Lord God of 
Israel, under whose wings thou art come to 
trust." 



RUTH IN THE FIELD OF BOAZ 235 

Then she said, "Let me find favour in thy sight, 
my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and 
for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine 
handmaid, though I be not hke unto one of 
thine handmaidens." 

And Boaz said unto her, "At mealtime come 
thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy 
morsel in the vinegar." And she sat beside the 
reapers; and he reached her parched corn, and 
she did eat, and was sufficed, and left. 

And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz com- 
manded his young men, saying, "Let her glean 
even among the sheaves, and reproach her not. 
And let fall also some of the handfuls of pur- 
pose for her, and leave them, that she may glean 
them, and rebuke her not." 

So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat 
out that she had gleaned: and it was about an 
ephah of barley. And she took it up, and went 
into the city : and her mother in law saw what she 
had gleaned. And she brought forth, and gave to 
her that she had reserved after she was sufficed. 

And her mother in law said unto her, "Where 
hast thou gleaned to day? and where wrought- 
est thou.f^ Blessed be he that did take knowledge 
of thee." 

And she shewed her mother in law with whom 
she had wrought, and said, "The man's name 
with whom I wrought to day is Boaz." 



236 BIBLE STORIES 

And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, 
"Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off 
his kindness to the living and to the dead." And 
Naomi said unto her, "The man is near of kin 
unto us, one of our next kinsmen." 

And Ruth the Moabitess said, "He said unto 
me also, 'Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, 
until they have ended all my harvest.'" 

And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in 
law, "It is good, my daughter, that thou go out 
with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any 
other field." 

So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to 
glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat 
harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law. 

Ruth, 2 

For more about Ruth and Boaz, read chaps. 3 and 4 of the 
Book of Ruth 

THE CHILD SAMUEL 

Now there was a certain man of mount Eph- 
raim, and his name was Elkanah, and he had two 
wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and 
Hannah bare a son, and called his name Samuel, 
saying, "Because I have asked him of the 
Lord." 

And when she had weaned him, she took him 
up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of 



THE CHILD SAMUEL 237 

flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto 
the house of the Lord in Shiloh: and the child 
was young. And they slew a bullock, and brought 
the child to Eli. And she said, "O my lord, as thy 
soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood 
by thee here, praying unto the Lord. For this 
child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my 
petition which I asked of him. Therefore also I 
have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he 
shall be lent to the Lord." 

And Samuel ministered before the Lord, being 
a child, girded with a linen ephod. Moreover his 
mother made him a little coat, and brought it to 
him from year to year, when she came up with 
her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 

And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord 
before Eli. And the word of the Lord was pre- 
cious in those days; there was no open vision. 
And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was 
laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax 
dim, that he could not see; and ere the lamp of 
God went out in the temple of the Lord, where 
the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to 
sleep; that the Lord called Samuel: and he an- 
swered, "Here am I." And he ran unto Eli, and 
said, "Here am I; for thou calledst me." And he 
said, "I called not; lie down again." And he went 
and lay down. 

And the Lord called yet again, "Samuel." And 



238 BIBLE STORIES 

Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here am 
I; for thou didst call me." And he answered, "I 
called not, my son; lie down again." 

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nei- 
ther was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto 
him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third 
time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, 
*'Here am I; for thou didst call me." And Eli 
perceived that the Lord had called the child. 
Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, "Go, lie down: 
and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt 
say, * Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.'" So 
Samuel went and lay down in his place. 

And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at 
other times, "Samuel, Samuel." Then Samuel 
answered, "Speak; for thy servant heareth." And 
the Lord said to Samuel, "Behold, I will do a 
thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every 
one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will 
perform against Eli all things which I have spoken 
concerning his house: when I begin, I will also 
make an end. For I have told him that I will 
judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he 
knoweth : because his sons made themselves vile, 
and he restrained them not. And therefore I have 
sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of 
Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor 
offering for ever." 

And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened 



THE CHILD SAMUEL 239 

the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel 
feared to shew Eli the vision. 

Then Eli called Samuel, and said, "Samuel, my 
son." And he answered, "Here am I." And he 
said, "What is the thing that the Lord hath said 
unto thee.f^ I pray thee hide it not from me: God 
do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any 
thing from me of all the things that he said unto 
thee." And Samuel told him every whit, and hid 
nothing from him. And he said, "It is the Lord: 
let him do what seemeth him good." 

And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, 
and did let none of his words fall to the ground. 
And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew 
that Samuel was established to be a prophet of 
the Lord. And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh : 
for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh 
by the word of the Lord. 

1 Samuel, 1, 2, 3 

Read *' How Hannah's Prayer Was Answered,'' 1 Samuel^ 
chap. 1; " How the Philistines Took the Ark of the Lord,'* 
1 Samuel, chaps. 5 and 6 



ffltf three §i*eat!{u^5 



When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God 
giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dicell therein, and 
shalt say, " / loill set a king over me, like as all the nations that 
are about me;" thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, 
whom the Lord thy God shall choose: one from among thy 
brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a 
stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. 

Deuteronomy, 17 



NAY, BUT WTE WILL HAVE A KING 
OVER US!" 

ND it came to pass, when Samuel was old, 
that he made his sons judges over Israel. 
And his sons walked not in his ways, but 
turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and 
perverted judgment. 
Then all the elders of Israel gathered them- 
selves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 
and said unto him, *' Behold, thou art old, and 
thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us 
a king to judge us like all the nations." 

But the thing displeased Samuel, when they 
said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel 
prayed unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto 
Samuel, "Hearken unto the voice of the people in 
all that they say unto thee. For they have not 
rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I 
should not reign over them. According to all the 
works which they have done since the day that 
I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this 
day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and 
served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now 
therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet 
protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the 
manner of the king that shall reign over them." . 



244 BIBLE STORIES 

And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto 
the peoplevthat asked of him a king. And he said, 
*'This will be the manner of the king that shall 
reign over you. He will take your sons, and ap- 
point them for himself, for his chariots, and to be 
his horsemen; and some shall run before his char- 
iots. And he will appoint him captains over thou- 
sands, and captains over fifties; and will set them 
to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to 
make his instruments of war, and instruments of 
his chariots. And he will take your daughters to 
be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be 
bakers. And he will take your fields, and your 
vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of 
them, and give them to his servants. And he will 
take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, 
and give to his officers, and to his servants. And 
he will take your menservants, and your maid- 
servants, and your goodliest young men, and your 
asses, and put them to his work. He will take the 
tenth of your sheep. And ye shall be his servants. 
And ye shall cry out in that day because of your 
king which ye shall have chosen you; and the 
Lord will not hear you in that day." 

Nevertheless the people refused to obey the 
voice of Samuel; and they said, " Nay; but we will 
have a king over us; that we also may be like all 
the nations; and that our king may judge us, and 
go out before us, and fight our battles." 



GOLIATH THE GIANT 245 

And Samuel heard all the words of the people, 
and he rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord. 
And the Lord said to Samuel, ** Hearken unto 
their voice, and make them a king." And Samuel 
said unto the men of Israel, " Go ye every man 
unto his city." 

1 Samuel, 8 

Some of the interesting stories about the first king, are ''How 
Saul Was Made King," 1 Samuel, chaps 9, 10, and 11; ''How 
Saul Disobeyed God,'' 1 Samuel, chap. 13; "How Saul Dis- 
obeyed God a Second Time,'' 1 Samuel, chap. 15; " How Samuel 
Was Forced to Anoint David," 1 Samuel, chap. 16 



GOLIATH THE GIANT 

Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose 
name was Kish, a mighty man of power. And he 
had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young 
man, and a goodly. And there was not among the 
children of Israel a goodlier person than he. From 
his shoulders and upward he was higher than any 
of the people. 

Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it 
upon his head, and kissed him, and said, "Is it 
not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be 
captain over his inheritance?" 

And Samuel said to all the people, " See ye 
him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is 



246 BIBLE STORIES 

none like him among all the people? " And all the 
people shouted, and said, " God save the king! " 
Then Samuel told the people the manner of the 
kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up 
before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people 
away, every man to his house. 

Now the Philistines gathered together their 
armies to battle, and were gathered together at 
Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched in 
Ephes-dammim. And Saul and the men of Israel 
were gathered together, and pitched by the val- 
ley of Elah, and set the battle in array against 
the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on a 
mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on 
a mountain on the other side : and there was a 
valley between them. 

And there went out a champion out of the 
camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, 
whose height was six cubits and a span. And he 
had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was 
armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the 
coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he 
had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of 
brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his 
spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's 
head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And 
one bearing a shield went before him. 

And he stood and cried unto the armies of Is- 



DAVID'S BATTLE WITH GOLIATH U7 

rael, and said unto them, " Why are ye come out 
to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, 
and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for 
you, and let him come down to me. If he be able 
to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be 
your servants. But if I prevail against him, and 
kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve 
us." And the Philistine said, " I defy the armies 
of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may 
fight together." 

When Saul and all Israel heard those words of 
the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly 
afraid. 

1 Samuel, 9, 10, 17 



DAVID'S BATTLE WITH GOLIATH 

Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of 
Beth-lehem-judah, whose name was Jesse; and he 
had eight sons. And the man went among men 
for an old man in the days of Saul. And the three 
eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the 
battle. And David was the youngest: and the 
three eldest followed Saul. But David went and 
returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at 
Beth-lehem. 

And the Philistine drew near morning and 
evening, and presented himself forty days. 

And Jesse said unto David his son, "Take now 



248 BIBLE STORIES 

for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, 
and th^se ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy 
brethren. And carry these ten cheeses unto the 
captain of their thousand, and look how thy 
brethren fare, and take their pledge." Now Saul, 
and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the 
valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 

And David rose up early in the morning, and 
left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, 
as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to 
the trench, as the host was going forth to the 
fight, and shouted for the battle. For Israel and 
the Philistines had put the battle in array, army 
against army. 

And David left his carriage in the hand of the 
keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and 
came and saluted his brethren. And as he talked 
with them, behold, there came up the champion, 
the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of 
the armies of the Philistines, and spake according 
to the same words : and David heard them. 

And all the men of Israel, when they saw the 
man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. And 
the men of Israel said, "Have ye seen this man 
that is come up.^ surely to defy Israel is he come 
up. And it shall be, that the man who killeth him, 
the king will enrich him with great riches, and 
will give him his daughter, and make his father's 
house free in Israel." 



DAVID'S BATTLE WITH GOLIATH 249 

And David spake to the men that stood by 
him, saying, "What shall be done to the man that 
killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the re- 
proach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised 
Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the 
living God? " And the people answered him after 
this manner, saying, " So shall it be done to the 
man that killeth him." 

And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he 
spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kin- 
dled against David, and he said, " Why camest 
thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left 
those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy 
pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou 
art come down that thou mightest see the battle." 

And David said, " What have I now done? Is 
there not a cause?" And he turned from him 
toward another, and spake after the same man- 
ner: and the people answered him again after the 
former manner. And when the words were heard 
which David spake, they rehearsed them before 
Saul : and he sent for him. 

And David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart 
fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight 
with this Philistine." 

And Saul said to David, " Thou art not able to 
go against this Philistine to fight with him: for 
thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from 
his youth." 



250 BIBLE STORIES 

And David said unto Saul, " Thy servant kept 
his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a 
bear, and took a lamb out of the flock. And I 
went out after him, and smote him, and delivered 
it out of his mouth. And when he arose against 
me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, 
and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and 
the bear. And this uncircumcised Philistine shall 
be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies 
of the living God." 

David said moreover, "The Lord that delivered 
me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw 
of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of 
this Philistine." And Saul said unto David, "Go, 
and the Lord be with thee." 

And Saul armed David with his armour, and he 
put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he 
armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded 
his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; 
for he had not proved it. And David said unto 
Saul, "I cannot go with these; for I have not 
proved them." And David put them off him. 

And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him 
five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them 
in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; 
and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near 
to the Philistine. 

And the Philistine came on and drew near unto 
David; and the man that bare the shield went 




DAVID AND GOLIATH 



DAVID'S BATTLE WITH GOLIATH 251 

before him. And when the Philistine looked about, 
and saw David, he disdained him : for he was but 
a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. 
And the Philistine said unto David, "Am I a dog, 
that thou comest to me with staves.? " And the 
Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the 
Philistine said to David, " Come to me, and I will 
give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the 
beasts of the field." 

Then said David to the Philistine, "Thou com- 
est to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with 
a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the 
Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, 
whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord 
deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, 
and take thine head from thee; and I will give the 
carcases of the host of the Philistines this day 
unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of 
the earth; that all the earth may know that there 
is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall 
know that the Lord saveth not with sword and 
spear : for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give 
you into our hands." 

And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, 
and came and drew nigh to meet David, that Da- 
vid hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the 
Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, 
and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote 
the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk 



252 BIBLE STORIES 

into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the 
earth. ■* 

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a 
sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, 
and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand 
of David. Therefore David ran, and stood upon 
the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it 
out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut 
off his head therewith. And when the Philistines 
saw their champion was dead, they fled. 

And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and 
shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou 
come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. 
And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by 
the way. And the children of Israel returned 
from chasing after the Philistines, and they 
spoiled their tents. 

And David took the head of the Philistine, and 
brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in 
his tent. 

1 Samuel, 17 

Beautiful stories about another shepherd are, " The Lord is 
my shepherd,'' Psalm 23; " The Shepherd of Israel,"" Ezekiel, 
chap. 34-; " The Good Shepherd," John, chap. 10; 1 Peter, chap. 
6; Hebrews, chap. 13, verses 20-21 



JONATHAN, KING SAUL'S SON 253 

JONATHAN, KING SAUL'S SON 

And as David returned from the slaughter of 
the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him 
before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his 
hand. And Saul said to him, "Whose son art thou, 
thou young man?" And David answered, "I am 
the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite." 

And it came to pass, when he had made an end 
of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan 
was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan 
loved him as his own soul. 

And Saul took him that day, and would let him 
go no more home to his father's house. 

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, 
because he loved him as his own soul. And Jona- 
than stripped himself of the robe that was upon 
him, and gave it to David, and his garments, 
even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his 
girdle. 

And David went out whithersoever Saul sent 
him, and behaved himself wisely. And Saul set 
him over the men of war, and he was accepted in 
the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of 
Saul's servants. 

1 Samuel, 17, 18 

Read ''How Jonathan and His Armor Bearer Smote the 
Garrison of the Philistines,*' 1 Samuel, H 



254 BIBLE STOEIES 

THE JEALOUS KING 

And it came to pass as they came, when David 
was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, 
that the women came out of all cities of Israel, 
singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with ta- 
brets, with joy, and with instruments of music. 
And the women answered one another as they 
played, and said, " Saul hath slain his thousands, 
and David his ten thousands." 

And Saul was very wroth, and the saying dis- 
pleased him; and he said, "They have ascribed 
unto David ten thousands, and to me they have 
ascribed but thousands. And what can he have 
more but the kingdom?" And Saul eyed David 
from that day and forward. 

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the 
evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he pro- 
phesied in the midst of the house; and David 
played with his hand, as at other times. And 
there was a javelin in Saul's hand. And Saul cast 
the javelin; for he said, **I will smite David even 
to the wall with it." And David avoided out of 
his presence twice. 

And Saul was afraid of David, because the 
Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul. 
Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made 
him his captain over a thousand; and he went out 
and came in before the people. 



MESSAGE OF THE THREE ARROWS 255 

And David behaved himself wisely in all his 
ways; and the Lord was with him. Wherefore 
when Saul saw that he behaved himself very 
wisely, he was afraid of him. 

But all Israel and Judah loved David, because 
he went out and came in before them. 

1 Samuel, 18 

Read ** How Michal SauVs Daughter Helped David to Es- 
cape," 1 Samuel, chap. 18, verses 17-30, and chap. 19 

THE MESSAGE OF THE THREE 
ARROWS 

And David said before Jonathan, " What have 
I done? what is mine iniquity .^^ and what is my sin 
before thy father, that he seeketh my lif e.^^ " 

And he said unto him, "God forbid; thou shalt 
not die. Behold, my father will do nothing either 
great or small, but that he will shew it me. And 
why should my father hide this thing from me? it 
is not so." 

And David sware moreover, and said, "Thy 
father certainly knoweth that I have found grace 
in thine eyes; and he saith, *Let not Jonathan 
know this, lest he be grieved.' But truly as the 
Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a 
step between me and death." 

Then said Jonathan unto David, "Whatsoever 
thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee." 



256 BIBLE STORIES 

And David said unto Jonathan, "Behold, to 
morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to 
sit with the king at meat. But let me go, that I 
may hide myself in the field unto the third day at 
even. If thy father at all miss me, then say, 
'David earnestly asked leave of me that he might 
run to Beth-lehem his city: for there is a yearly 
sacrifice there for all the family.' If he say thus, 
*It is well;' thy servant shall have peace: but if 
he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is de- 
termined by him. Therefore thou shalt deal 
kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought 
thy servant into a covenant of the Lord with thee. 
Notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay 
me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to 
thy father?" 

And Jonathan said, "Far be it from thee: for if 
I knew certainly that evil were determined by my 
father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it 
thee.?" 

! Then said David to Jonathan, " Who shall tell 
me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?" 

And Jonathan said unto David, ''Come, and 
let us go out into the field." And they went out 
both of them into the field. 

And Jonathan said unto David, "O Lord God 
of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to 
morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, 
if there be good toward David, and I then send 



MESSAGE OF THE THREE ARROWS 257 

not unto thee, and shew it thee; the Lord do so 
and much more to Jonathan. But if it please my 
father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and 
send thee away, that thou may est go in peace: and 
the Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my 
father. And thou shalt not only while yet I live 
shew me the kindness of the Lord, that I die not: 
but also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from 
my house for ever: no, not when the Lord hath 
cut off the enemies of David every one from the 
face of the earth." 

So Jonathan made a covenant with the house 
of David, saying, "Let the Lord even require it 
at the hand of David's enemies." And Jonathan 
caused David to swear again, because he loved 
him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul. 

Then Jonathan said to David, "To morrow is 
the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because 
thy seat will be empty. And when thou hast 
stayed three days, then thou shalt go down 
quickly, and come to the place where thou didst 
hide thyself when the business was in hand, and 
shalt remain by the stone Ezel. And I will shoot 
three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot 
at a mark. 

" And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, * Go, find 
out the arrows.' If I expressly say unto the lad, 
* Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take 
them; ' then come thou : for there is peace to thee, 



258 BIBLE STORIES 

and no hurt; as the Lord liveth. But if I say thus 
unto the young man, * Behold, the arrows are be- 
yond thee;' go thy way: for the Lord hath sent 
thee away. And as touching the matter which 
thou and I have spoken of, behold, the Lord be 
between thee and me for ever." 

So David hid himself in 'the field. And when 
the new moon was come, the king sat him down 
to eat meat. And the king sat upon his seat, as 
at other times, even upon a seat by the wall. And 
Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and 
David's place was empty. Nevertheless Saul 
spake not any thing that day: for he thought, 
'' Something hath befallen him." 

And it camcto pass on the morrow, which was 
the second day of the month, that David's place 
was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, 
" Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, 
neither yesterday, nor to day.^" 

And Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly 
asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem. And he 
said, 'Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath 
a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath 
commanded me to be there: and now, if I have 
found favour in thine eyes, let me get away I 
pray thee, and see my brethren.' Therefore he 
cometh not unto the king's table." 

Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jona- 
than, and he said unto him, "Thou son of the 



MESSAGE OF THE THREE ARROWS 259 

perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that 
thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own 
confusion. For as long as the son of Jesse liveth 
upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, 
nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch 
him unto me, for he shall surely die." 

And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and 
said unto him, "Wherefore shall he be slain? 
what hath he done?" 

And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: 
whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined 
of his father to slay David. So Jonathan arose 
from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no 
meat the second day of the month: for he was 
grieved for David, because his father had done 
him shame. 

And it came to pass in the morning, that Jona- 
than went out into the field at the time appointed 
with David, and a little lad with him. And he 
said unto his lad, "Run, find out now the arrows 
which I shoot." And as the lad ran, he shot an 
arrow beyond him. And when the lad was come 
to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had 
shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, " Is 
not the arrow beyond thee?" And Jonathan 
cried after the lad, "Make speed, haste, stay 
not." And Jonathan's lad gathered up the 
arrows, and came to his master. But the lad 
knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David 



260 BIBLE STORIES 

knew the matter. And Jonathan gave his artillery 
unto hi3 lad, and said unto him, " Go, carry them 
to the city." 

And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose 
out of a place toward the south, and fell on his 
face to the ground, and bowed himself three times : 
and they kissed one another, and wept one with 
another, until David exceeded. 

And Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, 
forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the 
name of the Lord, saying, *The Lord be between 
me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed 
for ever.'" 

And he arose and departed : and Jonathan went 
into the city. 

1 Samuel, 20 

Other interesting stories are, ''How Saul Slew the Priests of the 
Lord," 1 Samuel, chap. 21 and 22; "How Jonathan and David 
Made a Covenant Before the Lord," 1 Samuel, chap. 23; " The 
Punishment of the Churlish Man," 1 Samuel, chap. 25 



HOW SAUL WAS DELIVERED INTO 
DAVID'S HAND 

And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, 
saying, "Doth not David hide himself in the hill 
of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?" 

Then Saul arose, and went down to the wild- 
erness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men 



DAVID AND SAUL 261 

of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness 
of Ziph. And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, 
which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David 
abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul 
came after him into the wilderness. David there- 
fore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was 
come in very deed. 

And David arose, and came to the place where 
Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place 
where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the cap- 
tain of his host. And Saul lay in the trench, and 
the people pitched round about him. 

Then answered David and said to Ahimelech 
the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, 
brother to Joab, saying, " Who will go down with 
me to Saul to the camp?" And Abishai said, "I 
will go down with thee." 

So David and Abishai came to the people by 
night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the 
trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his 
bolster. But Abner and the people lay round 
about him. 

Then said Abishai to David, " God hath de- 
livered thine enemy into thine hand this day. 
Now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with 
the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not 
smite him the second time." 

And David said to Abishai, "Destroy him not: 
for who can stretch forth his hand against the 



262 BIBLE STORIES 

Lord's anointed, and be guiltless?" David said 
furthemnore, "As the Lord liveth, the Lord shall 
smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall 
descend into battle, and perish. The Lord forbid 
that I should stretch forth mine hand against the 
Lord's anointed. But, I pray thee, take thou now 
the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of 
water, and let us go." 

So David took the spear and the cruse of water 
from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and 
no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for 
they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from 
the Lord was fallen upon them. 

Then David went over to the other side, and 
stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space 
being between them. And David cried to the peo- 
ple, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "An- 
swerest thou not, Abner .^ " Then Abner answered 
and said, "Who art thou that criest to the king.? " 

And David said to Abner, "Art not thou a val- 
iant man.f^ and who is like to thee in Israel .^^ where- 
fore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? 
For there came one of the people in to destroy 
the king thy lord. This thing is not good that thou 
hast done. As the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to 
die, because ye have not kept your master, the 
Lord's anointed. And now see where the king's 
spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his 
bolster." 



DAVID AND SAUL 263 

And Saul knew David's voice, and said, "Is 
this thy voice, my son David?" 

And David said, "It is my voice, my lord, O 
king." And he said, "Wherefore doth my lord 
thus pursue after his servant? for what have I 
done? or what evil is in mine hand? Now there- 
fore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the 
words of his servant. If the Lord have stirred 
thee up against me, let him accept an offering. 
But if they be the children of men, cursed be they 
before the Lord; for they have driven me out this 
day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, 
saying, 'Go, serve other gods.' Now therefore, 
let not my blood fall to the earth before the face 
of the Lord : for the king of Israel is come out to 
seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in 
the mountains." 

Then said Saul, " I have sinned. Return, my 
son David : for I will no more do thee harm, be- 
cause my soul was precious in thine eyes this day. 
Behold, I have played the fool, and have erred 
exceedingly." 

And David answered and said, "Behold the 
king's spear ! and let one of the young men come 
over and fetch it. The Lord render to every man 
his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the 
Lord delivered thee into my hand to day, but I 
would not stretch forth mine hand against the 
Lord's anointed. And, behold, as thy life was 



264 BIBLE STORIES 

much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my Kfe 
be mu^h set by in the eyes of the Lord, and let 
him deliver me out of all tribulation." 

Then Saul said to David, "Blessed be thou, my 
son David: thou shalt both do great things, and 
also shalt still prevail." 

So David went on his way, and Saul returned 
to his place. 

1 Samuel, 26 

Read also ''How Saul Was Delivered into David's Hand 
Another Time," 1 Samuel, chap. 24- 

THE WITCH OF ENDOR 

Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had la- 
mented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in 
his own city. And Saul had put away those that 
had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the 
land. And the Philistines gathered themselves 
together, and came and pitched in Shunem. And 
Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched 
in Gilboa. 

And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, 
he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. 
And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord 
answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by 
Urim, nor by prophets. 

Then said Saul unto his servants, "Seek me a 
woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go 



THE WITCH OF ENDOR 265 

to her, and enquire of her." And his servants said 
to him, "Behold, there is a woman that hath a 
famihar spirit at Endor." 

And Saul disguised himself, and put on other 
raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and 
they came to the woman by night. And he said, 
"I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar 
spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name 
unto thee." 

And the woman said unto him, "Behold, thou 
knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off 
those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, 
out of the land. Wherefore then layest thou a 
snare for my life, to cause me to die?" 

And Saul sware to her by the Lord, saying, " As 
the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment hap- 
pen to thee for this thing." Then said the woman, 
"Whom shall I bring up unto thee.^" And he 
said, " Bring me up Samuel." 

And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried 
with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, 
saying, " Why hast thou deceived me? for thou 
art Saul." And the king said unto her, "Be not 
afraid: for what sawest thou?" And the woman 
said unto Saul, " I saw a god ascending out of the 
earth." 

And he said unto her, "What form is he of?" 
And she said, "An old man cometh up; and he is 
covered with a mantle." And Saul perceived 



^66 BIBLE STORIES 

that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face 
to the ground, and bowed himself. 

And Samuel said to Saul, "Why hast thou 
disquieted me, to bring me up?" And Saul an- 
swered, "I am sore distressed; for the Philistines 
make war against me, and God is departed from 
me, and answereth me no more, neither by proph- 
ets, nor by dreams. Therefore I have called thee, 
that thou mayest make known unto me what I 
shall do." 

Then said Samuel, "Wherefore then dost thou 
ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, 
and is become thine enemy .^^ And the Lord hath 
done for himself, as he spake by me: for the Lord 
hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and 
given it to thy neighbour, even to David. Be- 
cause thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord, 
nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, 
therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee 
this day. Moreover the Lord will also deliver 
Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines. 
And to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with 
me. The Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel 
into the hand of the Philistines." 

Then Saul fell straightway all along on the 
earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words 
of Samuel. And there was no strength in him; 
for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the 
night. 



SAUL'S LAST BATTLE 267 

And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that 
he was sore troubled, and said unto him, " Be- 
hold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and 
I have put my life in my hand, and have heark- 
ened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me. 
Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also 
unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set 
a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou 
mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy 
way." But he refused, and said, "I will not eat." 
But his servants, together with the woman, com- 
pelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. 
So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed. 

And the woman had a fat calf in the house; 
and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and 
kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread 
thereof: and she brought it before Saul, and be- 
fore his servants; and they did eat. 

Then they rose up, and went away that night. 

1 Samuel, 28 



SAUL'S LAST BATTLE 

Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and 
the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, 
and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. And the 
Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his 
sons. And the Philistines slew Jonathan, and 
Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 



268 BIBLE STORIES 

And the battle went sore against Saul, and the 
archers hit him, and he was wounded of the arch- 
ers. 

Then said Saul to his armourbearer, " Draw 
thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest 
these uncircumcised come and abuse me." But 
his armourbearer would not; for he was sore 
afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. 
And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was 
dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died. 

So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his 
house died together. 

And when all the men of Israel that were in 
the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and 
his sons were dead, then they forsook their cities, 
and fled: and the Philistines came and dwelt in 
them. 

And it came to pass on the morrow, when the 
Philistines came to strip the slain, that they 
found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa. 
And when they had stripped him, they took his 
head, and his armour, and sent into the land of 
the Philistines round about, to carry tidings unto 
their idols, and to the people. And they put his 
armour in the house of their gods, and fastened 
his head in the temple of Dagon. 

And when all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the 
Philistines had done to Saul, they arose, all the 
valiant men, and took away the body of Saul, 



TAKING OF THE CASTLE OF ZION 269 

and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to 
Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in 
Jabesh, and fasted seven days. 

So Saul died for his transgression which he 
committed against the Lord, even against the 
word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for 
asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to 
enquire of it ; and enquired not of the Lord : there- 
fore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto 
David the son of Jesse. 

1 Chronicles, 10 

Other good stories are, " The Lying Messenger,'^ 2 Samuel, 
chap. 1; "HowAbner, Captain of SauVs Host, Fought David,'* 
2 Samuel, chaps. 2 and S; "What Happened to the Men Who 
Slew SauVs Son," 2 Samuel, chap. ^ 



THE TAKING OF THE CASTLE OF 
ZION 

Then all Israel gathered themselves to David 
unto Hebron, saying, "Behold, we are thy bone 
and thy flesh. And moreover in time past, even 
when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest 
out and broughtest in Israel. And the Lord thy 
God said unto thee, 'Thou shalt feed my people 
Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people 
Israel.'" 

Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the 
king to Hebron; and David made a covenant 



270 BIBLE STORIES 

with them in Hebron before the Lord; and they 
anointed David king over Israel, according to the 
word of the Lord by Samuel. 

And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, 
which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the in- 
habitants of the land. And the inhabitants of 
Jebus said to David, "Thou shalt not come 
hither." Nevertheless David took the castle of 
Zion, which is the city of David. 

And David said, "Whosoever smiteth the 
Jebusites first shall be chief and captain." So 
Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was 
chief. 

And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they 
called it the city of David. And he built the city 
round about, even from Millo round about: and 
Joab repaired the rest of the city. 

So David waxed greater and greater: for the 
Lord of hosts was with him. 

1 Chronicles, 11 

Read "How David Brought Home the Ark of the Lord," 
2 Samuel, chap. 6 

HOW ARE THE MIGHTY FALLEN! 

And David lamented with this lamentation 
over Saul and over Jonathan his son : — 

"The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high 
places: how are the mighty fallen! 



HOW ARE THE MIGHTY FALLEN! 271 

"Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the 
streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Phil- 
istines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncir- 
cumcised triumph. 

"Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, 
neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of 
offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is 
vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he 
had not been anointed with oil. 

** From the blood of the slain, from the fat of 
the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, 
and the sword of Saul returned not empty. 

"Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant 
in their lives, and in their death they were not di- 
vided. They were swifter than eagles, they were 
stronger than lions. 

"Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who 
clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who 
put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. 

"How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the 
battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high 
places. 

"I am distressed for thee, my brother Jona- 
than : very pleasant hast thou been unto me : thy 
love to me was wonderful, passing the love of 
women. 

" How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons 
of war perished!" 

2 Samuel, 1 



272 BIBLE STORIES 

THE THREE MIGHTIEST 

Now three of the thirty captains went down to 
the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and 
the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley 
of Rephaim. And David was then in the hold, 
and the Philistines' garrison was then at Beth- 
lehem» 

And David longed, and said, "Oh that one 
would give me drink of the water of the well of 
Beth-lehem, that is at the gate!" 

And the three brake through the host of the 
Philistines, and drew water out of the well of 
Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, 
and brought it to David: but David would not 
drink of it, but poured it out to the Lord. And 
said, " My God forbid it me, that I should do this 
thing. Shall I drink the blood of these men that 
have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the 
jeopardy of their lives they brought it." There- 
fore he would not drink it. 

These things did these three mightiest. 

1 Chronicles, 11 

Read about *' The Boy Who Was Lame on Both Feet" 
2 Samuel, chap. 4-, verses 1-4-, and chap. 9, chap. 16, verses 
1-4, chap. 19, verses 24-30 



KING DAVID'S GRIEVOUS SIN 273 

KING DAVID'S GRIEVOUS SIN 

And it came to pass, after the year was ex- 
pired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, 
that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, 
and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of 
Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tar- 
ried still at Jerusalem. 

And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that 
David arose from off his bed, and walked upon 
the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he 
saw a woman washing herself. And the woman 
was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent 
and enquired after the woman. And one said, "Is 
not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the 
wife of Uriah the Hittite.^ " 

And it came to pass that David wrote a letter 
to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And 
he wrote in the letter, saying, " Set ye Uriah in 
the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye 
from him, that he may be smitten, and die." 

And it came to pass, when Joab observed the 
city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where 
he knew that valiant men were. And the men of 
the city went out, and fought with Joab. And 
there fell some of the people of the servants of 
David; and Uriah the Hittite died also. 

Then Joab sent and told David all the things 
concerning the war; and charged the messenger. 



274 BIBLE STORIES 

saying, "When thou hast made an end of telling 
the matters of the war unto the king, and if so be 
that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, 
* Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city 
when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would 
shoot from the wall? who smote Abimelech the 
son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a 
piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that 
he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall?' 
then say thou, *Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is 
dead also.'" 

So the messenger went, and came and shewed 
David all that Joab had sent him for. And the 
messenger said unto David, " Surely the men pre- 
vailed against us, and came out unto us into the 
field, and we were upon them even unto the en- 
tering of the gate. And the shooters shot from off 
the wall upon thy servants; and-some of the king's 
servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the 
Hittite is dead also." 

Then David said unto the messenger, "Thus 
shalt thou say unto Joab, 'Let not this thing dis- 
please thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as 
another. Make thy battle more strong against 
the city, and overthrow it. ' And encourage thou 
him." 

And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah 
her husband was dead, she mourned for her hus- 
band. And when the mourning was past, David 



**THOU ART THE MAN!" 275 

sent and fetched her to his house, and she became 
his wife, and bare him a son. 

But the thing that David had done displeased 
the Lord. 

2 Samuel, 11 



"THOU ART THE MAN!" 

And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And 
he came unto him, and said unto him, "There 
were two men in one city; the one rich, and the 
other poor. The rich man had exceeding many 
flocks and herds. But the poor man had nothing, 
save one Kttle ewe lamb, which he had bought 
and nourished up. And it grew up together with 
him, and with his children. It did eat of his own 
meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his 
bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And 
there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he 
spared to take of his own flock and of his own 
herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was 
come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, 
and dressed it for the man that was come to him." 

And David's anger was greatly kindled against 
the man; and he said to Nathan, "As the Lord 
liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall 
surely die. And he shall restore the lamb four- 
fold, because he did this thing, and because he had 
no pity." 



276 BIBLE STORIES 

And Nathan said to David, "Thou art the 
man! 

" Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, ' I anointed 
thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of 
the hand of Saul; and I gave thee thy master's 
house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and 
gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if 
that had been too little, I would moreover have 
given unto thee such and such things. 

" * Wherefore hast thou despised the command- 
ment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou 
hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and 
hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain 
him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 
Now therefore the sword shall never depart from 
thine house; because thou hast despised me, and 
hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be 
thy wife.' 

"Thus saith the Lord, ' Behold, I will raise up 
evil against thee out of thine own house, and I 
will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give 
them unto thy neighbour. For thou didst it 
secretly : but I will do this thing before all Israel, 
and before the sun.' " 

And David said unto Nathan, " I have sinned 
against the Lord." 

And Nathan said unto David, "The Lord also 
hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. How- 
beit, because by this deed thou hast given great 



'*THOU ART THE MAN!" 277 

occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, 
the child also that is born unto thee shall surely 
die." 

And Nathan departed unto his house. And the 
Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto 
David, and it was very sick. David therefore 
besought God for the child; and David fasted, 
and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. And 
the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to 
raise him up from the earth: but he would not, 
neither did he eat bread with them. 

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that 
the child died. And the servants of David feared 
to tell him that the child was dead : for they said, 
" Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake 
unto him, and he would not hearken unto our 
voice : how will he then vex himself, if we tell him 
that the child is dead?" 

But when David saw that his servants whis- 
pered, David perceived that the child was dead : 
therefore David said unto his servants, "Is the 
child dead?" And they said, "He is dead." 

Then David arose from the earth, and washed, 
and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, 
and came into the house of the Lord, and wor- 
shipped. Then he came to his own house; and 
when he required, they set bread before him, and 
he did eat. 

Then said his servants unto him, " What thing 



278 BIBLE STORIES 

is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and 
weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the 
child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread." 

And he said, "While the child was yet alive, 
I fasted and wept: for I said, * Who can tell 
whether God will be gracious to me, that the child 
raay live? ' But now he is dead, wherefore should 
I fast? can X bring him back again? I shall go to 
him, but he shall not return to me." 

And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife. And 
she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: 
and the Lord loved him. And he sent by the hand 
of Nathan, the prophet; and he called his name 
Jedidiah (Beloved of the Lord), because of the 
Lord. 

2 Samuel, 12 

ABSALOM, KING DAVID'S SON 

But in all Israel there was none to be so much 
praised as Absalom for his beauty. From the sole 
of his foot even to the crown of his head there was 
no blemish in him. And when he polled his head, 
(for it was at every year's end that he polled it: 
because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he 
polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two 
hundred shekels after the king's weight. 

And it came to pass that Absalom prepared him 
chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before 



ABSALOM, KING DAVID'S SON 279 

him. And Absalom rose up early, and stood be- 
side the way of the gate. And it was so, that when 
any man that had a controversy came to the king 
for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and 
said, "Of what city art thou? " And he said, "Thy 
Servant is of one of the tribes of Israel." And 
Absalom said unto him, "See, thy matters are 
good and right; but there is no man deputed of 
the king to hear thee." Absalom said moreover, 
"Oh that I were made judge in the land, that 
every man which hath any suit or cause might 
come unto me, and I would do him justice!" 

And it was so, that when any man came nigh 
to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, 
and took him, and kissed him. And on this man- 
ner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the 
king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts 
of the men of Israel. 

And it came to pass after forty years that 
Absalom said unto the king, "I pray thee, let me 
go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the 
Lord, in Hebron. For thy servant vowed a vow 
while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, 'If the 
Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, 
then I will serve the Lord.'" And the king said 
unto him, "Go in peace." So he arose, and went 
to Hebron. 

But Absalom sent spies throughout all the 
tribes of Israel, saying, " As soon as ye hear the 



280 BIBLE STOHIES 

sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, * Ab- 
salom reigneth in Hebron.' " 

And with Absalom went two hundred men out 
of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in 
their simplicity, and they knew not any thing. 
And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, 
David's counsellor, from his city, even from 
Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the con- 
spiracy was strong; for the people increased con- 
tinually with Absalom. 

And there came a messenger to David, saying, 
"The hearts of the men of Israel are after Ab- 
salom." 

And David said unto all his servants that were 
with him at Jerusalem, "Arise, and let us flee; for 
we shall not else escape from Absalom. Make 
speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and 
bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the 
edge of the sword." 

And the king's servants said unto the king, 
"Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatso- 
ever my lord the king shall appoint." 

And the king went forth, and all the people 
after him, and tarried in a place that was far off. 
And all his servants passed on beside him; six 
hundred men which came after him from Gath, 
passed on before the king. 

Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, "Where- 
fore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, 



ABSALOM, KING DAVID'S SON 281 

and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, 
and also an exile. Whereas thou earnest but yes- 
terday, should I this day make thee go up and 
down with us? seeing I go whither I may. Return 
thou, and take back thy brethren. Mercy and 
truth be with thee." And Ittai answered the 
king, and said, "As the Lord liveth, and as my 
lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord 
the king shall be, w^hether in death or life, even 
there also will thy servant be." 

And David said to Ittai, " Go and pass over." 
And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, 
and all the little ones that were with him. And 
all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the 
people passed over. The king also himself passed 
over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed 
over, toward the way of the wilderness. 

And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were 
with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God. 
And they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar 
went up, until all the people had done passing out 
of the city. And the king said unto Zadok, 
"Carry back the ark of God into the city. If I 
shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will 
bring me again, and shew me both it, and his 
habitation. But if he thus say, *I have no delight 
in thee;' behold, here am I, let him do to me as 
seemeth good unto him." 

The king said also unto Zadok the priest, " Art 



28£ BIBLE STORIES 

not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and 
your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and 
Jonathan the son of Abiathar. See, I will tarry in 
the plain of the wilderness, until there come word 
from you to certify me." Zadok therefore and 
Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusa- 
lem : and they tarried there. 

And David went up by the ascent of mount 
Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head 
covered, and he went barefoot. And all the peo- 
ple that was with him covered every man his 
head, and they went up, weeping as they went 
up. 

2 Samuel, 14, 15 

Another story of Absalom is '* The Evil Counsel of Ahitho- 
pkel" 2 Samuel y chap. 15 y verses 31-37; and chaps. 16, 17 



THE PUNISHMENT OF ABSALOM 

And David numbered the people that were with 
him, and set captains of thousands and captains 
of hundreds over them. And David sent forth a 
third part of the people under the hand of Joab, 
and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son 
of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a tlurd part under 
the hand of Ittai the Gittite. 

And the king said unto the people, "I will surely 
go forth with you myself also." But the people 
answered, "Thou shalt not go forth: for if we 



THE PUNISHMENT OF ABSALOM 283 

flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half 
of us die, will they care for us. But now thou art 
worth ten thousand of us. Therefore now it is 
better that thou succour us out of the city." And 
the king said unto them, "What seemeth you 
best I will do." And the king stood by the gate 
side, and all the people came out by hundreds and 
by thousands. 

And the king commanded Joab and Abishai 
and Ittai, saying, "Deal gently for my sake with 
the young man, even with Absalom." And all 
the people heard when the king gave all the cap- 
tains charge concerning Absalom. 

So the people went out into the field against 
Israel. And the battle was in the wood of Eph- 
raim; where the people of Israel were slain before 
the servants of David, and there was there a great 
slaughter that day of twenty thousand men. For 
the battle was there scattered over the face of all 
the country. And the wood devoured more people 
that day than the sword devoured. 

And Absalom met the servants of David. And 
Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went 
under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his 
head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up 
between the heaven and the earth; and the mule 
that was under him went away. 

And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and 
said, "Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak." 



284 BIBLE STORIES 

And Joab said unto the man that told him, 
"And, bdiold, thou sawest him, and why didst 
thou not smite him there to the ground? and I 
would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a 
girdle." 

And the man said unto Joab, "Though I should 
receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, 
yet would I not put forth mine hand against the 
king's son. For in our hearing the king charged 
thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, * Beware that 
none touch the young man Absalom.' Otherwise 
I should have wrought falsehood against mine 
own life. For there is no matter hid from the 
king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself 
against me." 

Then said Joab, "I may not tarry thus with 
thee." And he took three darts in his hand, and 
thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while 
he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. And ten 
young men that bare Joab's armour compassed 
about and smote Absalom, and slew him. 

And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people 
returned from pursuing after Israel : for Joab held 
back the people. And they took Absalom, and 
cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a 
very great heap of stones upon him : and all Israel 
fled every one to his tent. Now Absalom in his 
lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a 
pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, " I 



THE PUNISHMENT OF ABSALOM 285 

have no son to keep my name in remembrance." 
And he called the pillar after his own name : and 
it is called unto this day, Absalom's place. 

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, "Let me 
now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the 
Lord hath avenged him of his enemies." And 
Joab said unto him, "Thou shalt not bear tidings 
this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day. 
But this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because 
the king's son is dead." 

Then said Joab to Cushi, "Go tell the king what 
thou hast seen." And Cushi bowed himself unto 
Joab, and ran. 

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again 
to Joab," But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also 
run after Cushi." And Joab said, "Wherefore 
wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no 
tidings ready .'^" "But howsoever," said he, "let 
me run." And he said unto him, "Run." Then 
Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran 
Cushi. 

And David sat between the two gates. And 
the watchman went up to the roof over the gate 
unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, 
and behold a man running alone. And the watch- 
man cried, and told the king. And the king said, 
"If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth." 
And he came apace, and drew near. 

And the watchman saw another man running: 



286 BIBLE STORIES 

and the watchman called unto the porter, and 
said, "Beliold another man running alone." And 
the king said, "He also bringeth tidings." And 
the watchman said, "Me thinketh the running of 
the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the 
son of Zadok." And the king said, "He is a good 
man, and cometh with good tidings." 

And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, 
"All is well." And he fell down to the earth upon 
his face before the king, and said, "Blessed be the 
Lord thy God, which hath delivered up the men 
that lifted up their hand against my lord the 
king." 

And the king said, "Is the young man Absalom 
safe? " And Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent 
the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw 
a great tumult, but I knew not what it was." 
And the king said unto him, "Turn aside, and 
stand here." And he turned aside, and stood 
still. 

And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, 
"Tidings, my lord the king: for the Lord hath 
avenged thee this day of all them that rose up 
against thee." 

And the king said unto Cushi, "Is the young 
man Absalom safe.^^ " And Cushi answered, "The 
enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise 
against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young 
man is." 



HOUSE OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL 287 

And the king was much moved, and went up 
to the chamber over the gate, and wept : and as 
he went, thus he said, " O my son Absalom, my 
son, my son Absalom ! would God I had died for 
thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! " 

2 Samuel, 18 

Read " What Happened When David Returned to His King- 
dom," 2 Samuel, chap. 19 



THE HOUSE OF THE LORD GOD OF 
ISRAEL 

And David called for Solomon his son, and 
charged him to build an house for the Lord God 
of Israel. 

And David said to Solomon, "My son, as for 
me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the 
name of the Lord my God. But the word of the 
Lord came to me, saying, 'Thou hast shed blood 
abundantly, and hast made great wars. Thou 
shalt not build an house unto my name, because 
thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my 
sight. 

*' ' Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall 
be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all 
his enemies round about: for his name shall be 
Solomon (that is Peaceful), and I will give peace 
and quietness unto Israel in his days. He shall 
build an house for my name; and he shall be my 



288 BIBLE STORIES 

son, and I will be his father; and I will establish 
the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.' 

"Now, my son, the Lord be with thee; and 
prosper thou, and build the house of the Lord thy 
God, as he hath said of thee. Only the Lord give 
thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee 
charge concerning Israel, that thou may est keep 
the law of the Lord thy God. Then shalt thou 
prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes 
and judgments which the Lord charged Moses 
with concerning Israel. Be strong, and of good 
courage; dread not, nor be dismayed. 

"Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared* 
for the house of the Lord an hundred thousand 
talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents 
of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for 
it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I 
prepared; and thou may est add thereto. More- 
over there are workmen with thee in abundance, 
hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all 
manner of cunning men for every manner of work. 
Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, 
there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, 
and the Lord be with thee." 

David also commanded all the princes of Israel 
to help Solomon his son, saying, "Is not the Lord 
your God with you? and hath he not given you 
rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabit- 
ants of the land into mine hand; and the land is 



KING SOLOMON'S CHOICE 289 

subdued before the Lord, and before his people. 
Now set your heart and your soul to seek the 
Lord your God. Arise therefore, and build ye the 
sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of 
the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels 
of God, into the house that is to be built to the 
name of the Lord." 

Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all 
Israel. And the time that he reigned over Israel 
was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, 
and thirty and three years reigned he in Jeru- 
salem. And he died in a good old age full of days, 
riches, and honour : and Solomon his son reigned 
in his stead. 

1 Chronicles, 22, 29 

Other good stories are: ** The Message of Nathan the Pro- 
phet" 2 Samuel, chap. 1; " The Revolt of Sheba the Son of 
Bichri," 2 Samuel, chap. 20; " David Numbers Israel,"" 1 Chron- 
icles, chap. 21; " How Solomon Was Chosen King,'' 1 Kings, 
chap. -?; '* The Last Words of the Son of Jesse,'' 2 Samuel, chap. 
23, verses 1-7 



KING SOLOMON'S CHOICE 

And Solomon the son of David was strength- 
ened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was 
with him, and magnified him exceedingly. 

Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the cap- 
tains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the 
judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the 



290 BIBLE STORIES 

chief of the fathers. So Solomon, and all the con- 
gregation with him, went to the high place that 
was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the 
congregation of God, which Moses the servant of 
the Lord had made in the wilderness. And Solo- 
man went up thither to the brazen altar before 
the Lord, which was at the tabernacle of the con- 
gregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings 
upon it. 

In that night did God appear unto Solomon, 
and said unto him, "Ask what I shall give thee." 

And Solomon said unto God, "Thou hast 
shewed great mercy unto David my father, and 
hast made me to reign in his stead. Now, O Lord 
God, let thy promise unto David my father be 
established: for thou hast made me king over a 
people like the dust of the earth in multitude. 
Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may 
go out and come in before this people: for who 
can judge this thy people, that is so great? " 

And God said to Solomon, "Because this was 
in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, 
wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, 
neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked 
wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou may- 
est judge my people, over whom I have made thee 
king: wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; 
and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and hon- 
our, such as none of the kings have had that have 



KING SOLOMON'S CHOICE 291 

been before thee, neither shall there any after 
thee have the like." 

And God gave Solomon wisdom and under- 
standing exceeding much, and largeness of heart, 
even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And 
Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the 
children of the east country, and all the wisdom 
of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men; than 
Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, 
and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was 
in all nations round about. 

And he spake three thousand proverbs; and his 
songs were a thousand and five. And he spake of 
trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even 
unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall. 
He spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creep- 
ing things, and of fishes. 

And there came of all people to hear the wisdom 
of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had 
heard of his wisdom. 

2 Chronicles, 1; 1 Kings, 4 

Some of the wise words of Solomon are: " Go to the Ant Thou 
Sluggard'' Proverbs, chap. 6, verses 6-1 J; "Seven Things the 
Lord Hateth," Proverbs, chap. 6, verses 16-19; " I Wisdom,''' 
Proverbs, chap. 8; " The Glutton and the Drunkard," Proverbs, 
chap. 23, verses 19-35; " The Ant, the Coney, the Locust, and the 
Spider," Proverbs, chap. 30, verses 24-28; " The Lying Lips," 
Proverbs, chap. 12, verses 17-22 and Proverbs, chap. 19, verse 
9; " The Wicked," Proverbs, chap. 4-, cind Ecclesiastes , chap. 8, 
verses 11-13; ''The Little City," Ecclesiastes, chap. 9, verses 
13-18; '' Remember Now Thy Creator in the Days of Thy 
Youth," Ecclesiastes, chap. 12 



292 BIBLE STORIES 

THE JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON 

Then came there two women, unto the king, 
and stood before him. 

And the one woman said, "O my lord, I and 
this woman dwell in one house. And it came to 
pass we were together; there was no stranger with 
us in the house, save we two in the house. And this 
woman's child died in the night; because she over- 
laid it. And she arose at midnight, and took my 
son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, 
and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child 
in my bosom. And when I rose in the morning, 
behold, it was dead : but when I had considered it 
in the morning, behold, it was not my son." 

And the other woman said, "Nay; but the 
living is my son, and the dead is thy son." 

And this said, "No; but the dead is thy son, and 
the living is my son." Thus they spake before the 
king. 

Then said the king, "The one saith, *This is my 
son that li veth, and thy son is the dead : ' and the 
other saith, 'Nay; but thy son is the dead, and 
my son is the living.' " And the king said, "Bring 
me a sword." And they brought a sword before 
the king. 

And the king said, " Divide the living child in 
two, and give half to the one, and half to the 
other." 




KING SOLOMON'S JUDGMENT 



TREASURES OF KING SOLOMON 293 

Then spake the woman whose the Kving child 
was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon 
her son, and she said, "O my lord, give her the 
living child, and in no wise slay it." But the other 
said, *' Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide 
it." 

Then the king answered and said, " Give her 
the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the 
mother thereof." 

And all Israel heard of the judgment which 
the king had judged; and they feared the king: 
for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, 
to do judgment. 

1 Kings, 3 

Read about " The House of the Lord that Solomon Built," 
1 Kings, chaps. 5, 6, and 7 

THE TREASURES OF KING SOLOMON 

And king Solomon made a navy of ships in 
Ezion-geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore 
of the Red sea. And Hiram (king of Tyre) sent 
in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowl- 
edge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon. 
And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence 
gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and 
brought it to king Solomon. 

And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold 
from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty 



294 BIBLE STORIES 

of almug trees, and precious stones. And the king 
made of ^the almug trees pillars for the house of 
the Lord and for the king's house, harps also and 
psalteries for singers: there came no such almug 
trees, nor were seen unto this day. 

Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon 
in one year was six hundred threescore and six 
talents of gold, beside that he had of the mer- 
chantmen, and of the traffick of the spice mer- 
chants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the 
governors of the country. 

And king Solomon made two hundred targets 
of beaten gold : six hundred shekels of gold went 
to one target. And he made three hundred shields 
of beaten gold; three pounds of gold went to one 
shield. And the king put them in the house of the 
forest of Lebanon. 

Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory 
and overlaid it with the best gold. The throne had 
six steps, and the top of the throne was round be- 
hind: and there were stays on either side on the 
place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the 
stays. And twelve lions stood there on the one 
side and on the other upon the six steps : there was 
not the like made in any kingdom. 

And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were 
of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the 
forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of 
silver. It was nothing accounted of in the days of 



TREASURES OF KING SOLOMON 295 

Solomon. For the king had at sea a navy of Thar- 
shish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years 
came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and 
silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. 

So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the 
earth for riches and for wisdom. 

And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear 
his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. And 
they brought every man his present, vessels of sil- 
ver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, 
and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year. 

And Solomon gathered together chariots and 
horsemen : and he had a thousand and four hun- 
dred chariots, and twelve thousand horse-men, 
whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and 
with the king at Jerusalem. 

And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as 
stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore 
trees that are in the vale, for abundance. 

And Solomon^ had horses brought out of 
Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants re- 
ceived the linen yarn at a price. And a chariot 
came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred 
shekels of silver ,'and an horse for an hundred and 
fifty : and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and 
for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by 
their means. 

1 Kings, 9, 10 

1 See pages 179-80. 



296 BIBLE STORIES 

^ THE QUEEN OF SHEBA 

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame 
of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she 
came to prove him with hard questions. And she 
came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with 
camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and 
precious stones. 

And when she was come to Solomon, she com- 
muned with him of all that was in her heart. And 
Solomon told her all her questions : there was not 
any thing hid from the king, which he told her 
not. 

And when the queen of Sheba had seen all 
Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had 
built, and the meat of his table, and the sitting of 
his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, 
and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his 
ascent by which he went up unto the house of the 
Lord; there was no more spirit in her. 

And she said to the king, " It was a true report 
that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of 
thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, 
until I came, and mine eyes had seen it. And, 
behold, the half was not told me. Thy wisdom 
and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. 
Happy are thy men, happy are these thy serv- 
ants, which stand continually before thee, and that 
hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the Lord thy God, 



KING SOLOMON'S SIN 297 

which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne 
of Israel. Because the Lord loved Israel for ever, 
therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and 
justice." 

And she gave the king an hundred and twenty 
talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and 
precious stones. There came no more such abun- 
dance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba 
gave to king Solomon. 

And king Solomon gave unto the queen of 
Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, be- 
side that which Solomon gave her of his royal 
bounty. 

So she turned and went to her own country, she 
and her servants. 

1 Kings, 10 

KING SOLOMON'S SIN 

But king Solomon loved many strange women, 
together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of 
the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, 
and Hittites; of the nations concerning which the 
Lord said unto the children of Israel, "Ye shall 
not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto 
you: for surely they will turn away your heart 
after their gods." Solomon clave unto these in 
love. 

And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, 



298 BIBLE STORIES 

and three hundred concubines. And his wives 
turned away his heart. 

For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, 
that his wives turned away his heart after other 
gods. And his heart was not perfect with the 
Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. 
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of 
the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination 
of the Ammonites. 

And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, 
and went not fully after the Lord, as did David 
his father. Then did Solomon build an high place 
for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the 
hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the 
abomination of the children of Ammon. And like- 
wise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt 
incense and sacrificed unto their gods.^ 

And the Lord was angry with Solomon, be- 
cause his heart was turned from the Lord God of 
Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, and 
had commanded him concerning this thing, that 
he should not go after other gods: but he kept not 
that which the Lord commanded. 

Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, "For as 
much as this is done of thee, and thou hast not 
kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have 
commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom 
from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Not- 

1 See pages 177-78; and 180. 



KING SOLOMON'S SIN 299 

withstanding in thy days I will not do it for David 
thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand 
of thy son. Howbeit I will not rend away all the 
kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for 
David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake 
which I have chosen." 

1 Kings, 11 

Read about " SoloTnorCs Adversaries,'* 1 Kings, chap. 11 



QkKit^oittof tktrttSHbrs 



Yet the Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah, by 
all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, " Turn ye from 
your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, 
according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and 
which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.'* 

Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their 
necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the 
Lord their God. 

Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed 
them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah 
only. 

2 Kings, 17 




THE NEW GARMENT RENT IN 
TWELVE PIECES 

Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Solo- 
mon's servant, whose mother's name 
Vas Zeruah, a widow woman, even he 
lifted up his hand against the king. 

And this was the cause that he lifted up his 
hand against the king : Solomon built Millo, 
and repaired the breaches of the city of David 
his father. And the man Jeroboam was a mighty 
man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young 
man that he was industrious, he made him ruler 
over all the charge of the house of Joseph. 

And it came to pass at that time when Jero- 
boam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet 
Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he 
had clad himself with a new garment; and they 
two were alone in the field : and Ahijah caught the 
new garment that was on him, and rent it in 
twelve pieces. And he said to Jeroboam, **Take 
thee ten pieces : for thus saith the Lord, the God 
of Israel, * Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of 
the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to 
thee : (but he shall have one tribe for my servant 
David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city 
which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:) 



304 BIBLE STORIES 

Because that they have forsaken me, and have 
worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidon- 
ians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Mil- 
corn the god of the children of Ammon, and have 
not walked in my ways, to do that which is right 
in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my 
judgments, as did David his father. 

"'Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom 
out of his hand : but I will make him prince all the 
days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom 
I chose, because he kept my commandments and 
my statutes. But I will take the kingdom out of 
his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even 
ten tribes. And unto his son will I give one tribe, 
that David my servant may have a light alway 
before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have 
chosen me to put my name there. 

" 'And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign 
according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt 
be king over Israel. And it shall be, if thou wilt 
hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt 
walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, 
to keep my statutes and my commandments, as 
David my servant did; that I will be with thee, 
and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, 
and will give Israel unto thee. And I will for this 
afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.'" 

Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. 
And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto 



REBELLION OF THE TEN TRIBES 305 

Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until 
the death of Solomon. 

And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that 
he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in 
the book of the acts of Solomon? And the time 
that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel 
was forty years. And Solomon slept with his 
fathers, and was buried in the city of David his 
father; and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead. 

1 Kings, 11 



HOW THE TEN TRIBES REBELLED 

AND MADE A KINGDOM OF 

THEIR OWN 

And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to She- 
chem were all Israel come to make him king. And 
it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, 
who was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the 
presence of Solomon the king, heard it, that Jero- 
boam returned out of Egypt. 

And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam 
and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, say- 
ing, " Thy father made our yoke grievous. Now 
therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servi- 
tude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he 
put upon us, and we will serve thee." And he said 
unto them, "Come again unto me after three 
days." And the people departed. 



306 BIBLE STORIES 

And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old 
men that had stood before Solomon his father 
while he yet lived, saying, "What counsel give 
ye me to return answer to this people?" And 
they spake unto him, saying, " If thou be kind to 
this people, and please them, and speak good words 
to them, they will be thy servants for ever." 

But he forsook the counsel which the old men 
gave him, and took counsel with the young men 
that were brought up with him, that stood before 
him. And he said unto them, " What advice give 
ye that we may return answer to this people, 
which have spoken to me, saying, *Ease some- 
what the yoke that thy father did put upon us.^ ' " 

And the young men that were brought up with 
him spake unto him, saying, "Thus shalt thou 
answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, 
*Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou 
it somewhat lighter for us; ' thus shalt thou say 
unto them, * My little finger shall be thicker than 
my father's loins. For whereas my father put a 
heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your 
yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but 
I will chastise you with scorpions.'" 

So Jeroboam and all the people came to Reho- 
boam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, 
" Come again to me on the third day." And the 
king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam 
forsook the counsel of the old men, and answered 



REBELLION OF THE TEN TRIBES 307 

them after the advice of the young men, saying, 
"My father made your yoke heavy, but I will 
add thereto. My father chastised you with whips, 
but I will chastise you with scorpions." 

So the king hearkened not unto the people : for 
the cause was of God, that the Lord might per- 
form his word, which he spake by the hand of 
Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of 
Nebat. 

And when all Israel saw that the king would not 
hearken unto them, the people answered the king, 
saying, '* What portion have we in David? and we 
have none inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every 
man to your tents, O Israel. And now, David, see 
to thine own house." So all Israel went to their 
tents. 

But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in 
the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 

Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was 
over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned 
him with stones, that he died. But king Reho- 
boam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to 
flee to Jersualem. 

And Israel rebelled against the house of David 
unto this day. 

2 Chronicles, 10 



308 BIBLE STORIES 

THE WICKED JEROBOAM WHO 
MADE ISRAEL TO SIN 

Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Eph- 
raim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, 
and built Penuel. And Jeroboam said in his heart, 
"Now shall the kingdom return to the house of 
David: if this people go up to do sacrifice in the 
house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the 
heart of this people turn again unto their lord, 
even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they 
shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of 
Judah." 

Whereupon the king took counsel, and made 
two calves of gold, and said unto them, *'It is too 
much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Behold thy 
gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the 
land of Egypt." 

And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other put 
he in Dan. And this thing became a sin: for the 
people went to worship before the one, even unto 
Dan. 

And he made an house of high places, and made 
priests of the lowest of the people, which were not 
of the sons of Levi. And Jeroboam ordained a 
feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of 
the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, 
and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Beth-el 
sacrificing unto the calves that he had made. 



THE WICKED JEROBOAM 309 

And he placed in Beth-el the priests of the high 
places which he had made. So he offered upon the 
altar which he had made in Beth-el the fifteenth 
day of the eighth month. 

And, behold, there came a man of God out of 
Judah by the word of the Lord unto Beth-el; and 
Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. 

And he cried against the altar in the word of 
the Lord, and said, "O altar, altar, thus saith the 
Lord ; * Behold, a child shall be born unto the house 
of David, Josiah ^ by name; and upon thee shall 
he offer the priests of the high places that burn 
incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt 
upon thee.' " 

And he gave a sign the same day, saying, "This 
is the sign which the Lord hath spoken; ' Behold, 
the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are 
upon it shall be poured out.' " 

And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard 
the saying of the man of God, which had cried 
against the altar in Beth-el, that he put forth his 
hand from the altar, saying, "Lay hold on him." 
And his hand, which he put forth against him, 
dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to 
him. 

The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured 
out from the altar, according to the sign which the 
man of God had given by the word of the Lord. 

^ See page 374. 



310 BIBLE STORIES 

And the king answered and said unto the man 
of God, "In treat now the face of the Lord thy 
God, and pray for me, that my hand may be re- 
stored me again." And the man of God besought 
the Lord, and the king's hand was restored him 
again, and became as it was before. 

And the king said unto the man of God, " Come 
home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give 
thee a reward." 

And the man of God said unto the king, "If 
thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in 
with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water 
in this place. For so was it charged me by the 
word of the Lord, saying, *Eat no bread, nor 
drink water, nor turn again by the same way that 
thou camest.'" 

So he went another way, and returned not by 
the way that he came to Beth-el. 

1 Kings, 12, 13 

Other interesting stories are " The Prophet Who Disobeyed,'' 
1 Kings, chap. 13; *' How Jeroboam Was Cursed,*' 1 Kings, 
chap. 14; " The Evil Kings of Israel," 1 Kings, chap. 16 



KING AHAB THE WICKED 

And Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel 
in Samaria twenty and two years. And Ahab the 
son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above 
all that were before him. 



THE RAVENS THAT FED ELIJAH 311 

And it came to pass, as if it had been a light 
thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the 
son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the 
daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and 
went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And 
he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of 
Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 

And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to 
provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all 
the kings of Israel that were before him. 

In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: 
he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his first- 
born, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest 
son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, 
which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.^ 

1 Kings, 16 

THE RAVENS THAT FED ELIJAH 

And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the in- 
habitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, "As the Lord 
God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there 
shall not be dew nor rain these years, but accord- 
ing to my word." 

And the word of the Lord came to him, say- 
ing, " Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and 
hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before 
Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of 

1 See page 198. 



Sn BIBLE STORIES 

the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to 
feed thfee there." 

So he went and did according unto the word of 
the Lord: for he went and dwelt by the brook 
Cherith, that is before Jordan. And the ravens 
brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and 
bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of 
the brook. 

And it came to pass after a while, that the brook 
dried up, because there had been no rain in the 
land. 

1 Kings, 17 

ELIJAH AND THE WIDOW'S SON 

And the word of the Lord came unto him, say- 
ing, "Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which be- 
longeth to Zidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have 
commanded a widow woman there to sustain 
thee." 

So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when 
he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow 
woman was there gathering of sticks. And he 
called to her, and said, "Fetch me, I pray thee, 
a little water in a vessel, that I may drink." And 
as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and 
said, "Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread 
in thine hand." 

And she said, "As the Lord thy God liveth, I 



THE RAVENS THAT FED ELIJAH S13 

have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a bar- 
rel, and a little oil in a cruse. And, behold, I am 
gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress 
it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and 
die." 

And Elijah said unto her, "Fear not. Go and 
do as thou hast said. But make me thereof a little 
cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make 
for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the Lord 
God of Israel, 'The barrel of meal shall not waste, 
neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that 
the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.'" 

And she went and did according to the saying 
of Elijah. And she, and he, and her house, did 
eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted 
not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to 
the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah. 

And it came to pass after these things, that the 
son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell 
sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was 
no breath left in him. And she said unto Elijah, 
"What have I to do with thee, O thou man of 
God.? art thou come unto me to call my sin to 
remembrance, and to slay my son?" 

And he said unto her, "Give me thy son." And 
he took him out of her bosom, and carried him 
up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon 
his own bed. 

And he cried unto the Lord, and said, "O Lord 



314 BIBLE STORIES 

my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the 
widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? " 
And he stretched himself upon the child three 
times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, "O 
Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul 
come into him again." 

And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the 
soul of the child came into him again, and he 
revived. And Elijah took the child, and brought 
him down out of the chamber into the house, and 
delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, 
"See, thy son liveth." 

And the woman said to Elijah, "Now by this 
I know that thou art a man of God, and that the 
word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth." 

1 Kings, 17 



BAAL'S PROPHETS 

And it came to pass after many days, that the 
word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, 
saying, " Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will 
send rain upon the earth." And Elijah went to 
shew himself unto Ahab. 

And there was a sore famine in Samaria. And 
Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of 
his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly : 
for it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets 
of the Lord, that Obadiah took an hundred pro- 



BAAL'S PROPHETS 315 

phets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed 
them with bread and water.) And Ahab said unto 
Obadiah, *'Go into the land, unto all fountains 
of water, and unto all brooks. Per ad venture we 
may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, 
that we lose not all the beasts." So they divided 
the land between them to pass throughout it: 
Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah 
went another way by himself. 

And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah 
met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, 
and said, "Art thou that my lord Elijah.^^" And 
he answered him, "I am: go, tell thy lord, * Be- 
hold, Elijah is here.'" 

And he said, "What have I sinned, that thou 
wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of 
Ahab, to slay me? As the Lord thy God liveth, 
there is no nation or kingdom, whither my Lord 
hath not sent to seek thee. And when they said, 
'He is not there,' he took an oath of the kingdom 
and nation, that they found thee not. And now 
thou sayest, 'Go, tell thy lord, " Behold, Elijah is 
here." ' And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am 
gone from thee, that the Spirit of the Lord shall 
carry thee whither I know not; and so when I 
come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he 
shall slay 'me : but I thy servant fear the Lord from 
my youth. Was it not told my lord what I did 
when Jezebel slew the prophets of the Lord, how 



S16 BIBLE STORIES 

I hid an hundred men of the Lord's prophets by 
fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water? 
And now thou say est, ' Go, tell thy lord, " Behold, 
Elijah is here:" ' and he shall slay me." 

And Elijah said, " As the Lord of hosts liveth, 
before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself 
unto him to day." 

So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; 
and Ahab went to meet Elijah. And it came to 
pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto 
him, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel.^^" 

And he answered, *'I have not troubled Israel; 
but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have 
forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and 
thou hast followed Baalim. Now therefore send, 
and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, 
and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, 
and the prophets of the groves four hundred, 
which eat at Jezebel's table." 

So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, 
and gathered the prophets together unto mount 
Carmel. 

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, 
"How long halt ye between two opinions? if the 
Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow 
him." And the people answered him not a word. 

Then said Elijah unto the people, "I, even I 
only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal's 
prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let 



BAAL'S PROPHETS 317 

them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them 
choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in 
pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under. 
And I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on 
wood, and put no fire under. And call ye on the 
name of your gods, and I will call on the name of 
the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, 
lethunbeGod." 

And all the people answered and said, "It is 
well spoken." 

And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, 
"Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and 
dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the 
name of your gods, but put no fire under." 

And they took the bullock which was given 
them, and they dressed it, and called on the name 
of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, 
"O Baal, hear us! " But there was no voice, nor 
any that answered. And they leaped upon the 
altar which was made. 

And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah 
mocked them, and said, "Cry aloud! for he is a 
god. Either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he 
is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and 
must be awaked." 

And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after 
their manner with knives and lancets, till the 
blood gushed out upon them. And it came to pass, 
when midday was past, and they prophesied until 



318 BIBLE STORIES 

the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, 
that th'iere was neither voice, nor any to answer, 
nor any that regarded. 

And Elijah said unto all the people, "Come 
near unto me." And all the people came near 
unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord 
that was broken down. And Elijah took twelve 
stones, according to the number of the tribes of 
the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the 
Lord came, saying, "Israel shall be thy name:" 
and with the stones he built an altar in the name 
of the Lord. And he made a trench about the 
altar, as great as would contain two measures of 
seed. 

And he put the wood in order, and cut the bul- 
lock in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, 
"Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the 
burnt sacrifice, and on the wood." And he said, 
"Do it the second time." And they did it the sec- 
ond time. And he said, " Do it the third time." 
And they did it the third time. And the water ran 
round about the altar; and he filled the trench also 
with water. 

And it came to pass at the time of the offering 
of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet 
came near, and said, "Lord God of Abraham, 
Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that 
thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, 
and that I have done all these things at thy word. 



BAAL'S PROPHETS 319 

Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may 
know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou 
hast turned their heart back again." 

Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed 
the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, 
and the dust, and licked up the water that was in 
the trench. 

And when all the people saw it, they fell on 
their faces: and they said, "The Lord, he is the 
God; the Lord, he is the God." 
■ And Elijah said unto them, '' Take the proph- 
ets of Baal. Let not one of them escape." And 
they took them. And Elijah brought them down 
to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. 

And Elijah said unto Ahab, "Get thee up, eat 
and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of 
rain." So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. 

And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and 
he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his 
face between his knees; and said to his servant, 
" Go up now, look toward the sea." And he went 
up, and looked, and said, "There is nothing." 
And he said, "Go again seven times." 

And it came to pass at the seventh time, that 
he said, "Behold, there ariseth a little cloud 
out of the sea, like a man's hand." And he 
said, "Go up, say unto Ahab, 'Prepare thy char- 
iot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee 
not.'" 



320 BIBLE STORIES 

And it came to pass in the meanwhile, that the 
heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there 
was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to 
Jezreel. And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; 
and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to 
the entrance of Jezreel. 

1 Kings, 18 

A STILL SMALL VOICE 

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, 
and withal how he had slain all the prophets with 
the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto 
Elijah, saying, **So let the gods do to me, and 
more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one 
of them by to morrow about this time." And 
when he saw that, he arose, and went for his 
life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to 
Judah, and left his servant there. 

But he himself went a day's journey into the 
wilderness, and came and sat down under a juni- 
per tree: and he requested for himself that he 
might die; and said, "It is enough; now, O Lord, 
take away my life; for I am not better than my 
fathers." 

And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, 
behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto 
him, *' Arise and eat." And he looked, and, be- 
hold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a 



A STILL SMALL VOICE 321 

cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and 
drink, and laid him down again. 

And the angel of the Lord came again the sec- 
ond time, and touched him, and said, "Arise and 
eat; because the journey is too great for thee." 
And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in 
the strength of that meat forty days and forty 
nights unto Horeb the mount of God. 

And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged 
there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to 
him, and he said unto him, "What doest thou 
here, Elijah.? " 

And he said, " I have been very jealous for the 
Lord God of hosts. For the children of Israel have 
forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, 
and slain thy prophets with the sword ; and I, even 
I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it 
away." 

And he said, "Go forth, and stand upon the 
mount before the Lord." 

And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great 
and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake 
in pieces the rocks before the Lord ; but the Lord 
was not in the wind : and after the wind an earth- 
quake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 
and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was 
not in the fire : and after the fire a still small voice. 

And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he 
wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and 



322 BIBLE STORIES 

stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, 
there C3£me a voice unto him, and said, "What 
doest thou here, Elijah? " 

And he said, " I have been very jealous for the 
Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel 
have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine 
altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and 
I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to 
take it away." 

And the Lord said unto him, " Go, return on thy 
way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when 
thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 
And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to 
be king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Sha- 
phat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be 
prophet in thy room. And it shall come to pass, 
that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall 
Jehu slay : and him that escapeth from the sword 
of Jehu shall Elisha slay. Yet I have left me seven 
thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not 
bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath 
not kissed him." 

So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son 
of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of 
oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And 
Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon 
him. And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, 
and said, "Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and 
my mother, and then I will follow thee." And 



NABOTH'S VINEYARD 323 

lie said unto him, "Go back again: for what have 
I done to thee? " 

And he returned back from him, and took a 
yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh 
with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto 
the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and 
went after Elijah, and ministered unto him. 

1 Kings, 19 

Read " How Ahah the Wicked Made a Covenant with Israel* s 
Enemy,'' 1 Kings, chap. 20 



NABOTH'S VINEYARD 

And it came to pass after these things, that 
Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was 
in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of 
Samaria. 

And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, "Give 
me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden 
of herbs, because it is near unto my house : and I 
will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, 
if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth 
of it in money." And Naboth said to Ahab, "The 
Lord forbid it me, that I should give the inherit- 
ance of my fathers unto thee." 

And Ahab came into his house heavy and dis- 
pleased because of the word which Naboth the 
Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, "I 
will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers." 



324 BIBLE STORIES 

And lie laid him down upon his bed, and turned 
away his face, and would eat no bread. 

But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto 
him, "Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest 
no bread?" 

And he said unto her, "Because I spake unto 
Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, *Give 
me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please 
thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: ' and 
he answered, *I will not give thee my vineyard.' " 

And Jezebel his wife said unto him, "Dost thou 
now govern the kingdom of Israel? Arise, and 
eat bread, and let thine heart be merry. I will 
give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite." 

So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed 
them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the 
elders and to the nobles that were in his city, 
dwelling with Naboth. And she wrote in the let- 
ters, saying, "Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on 
high among the people. And set two men, sons of 
Belial (that is, base fellows), before him, to bear 
witness against him, saying, *Thou didst blas- 
pheme God and the king.' And then carry him 
out, and stone him, that he may die." 

And the men of his city, even the elders and the 
nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as 
Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written 
in the letters which she had sent unto them. They 
proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among 



NABOTH'S VINEYARD 325 

the people. And there came in two men, children 
of Belial, and sat before him : and the men of Be- 
lial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, 
in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth 
did blaspheme God and the king." Then they 
carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him 
with stones, that he died. 

Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth is 
stoned, and is dead." 

And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that 
Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel 
said to Ahab, "Arise, take possession of the vine- 
yard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused 
to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, 
but dead." 

And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that 
Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down 
to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take 
possession of it. 

And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the 
Tishbite, saying, "Arise, go down to meet Ahab 
king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is 
in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone 
down to possess it. And thou shalt speak unto him, 
saying, ' Thus saith the Lord, " Hast thou killed, 
and also taken possession.'^ " ' And thou shalt 
speak unto him, saying, * Thus saith the Lord, 
" In the place where dogs licked the blood of Na- 
both shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine." '" 



326 BIBLE STORIES 

And Ahab said to Elijah, "Hast thou found me, 
O mine ^nemy?" 

And he answered, "I have found thee: because 
thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of 
the Lord. Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and 
will take away thy posterity. And will make 
thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of 
Neb at, and like the house of Baasha the son of 
Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast 
provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin. 
And of Jezebel also spake the Lord, saying, 'The 
dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. Him 
that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; 
and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of 
the air eat.'" 

But there was none like unto Ahab, which did 
sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the 
Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. And he 
did very abominably in following idols, according 
to all things as did the Amorites, whom the Lord 
cast out before the children of Israel. 

And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those 
words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth 
upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, 
and went softly. 

And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the 
Tishbite, saying, "Seest thou how Ahab hum- 
bleth himself before me.^^ Because he humbleth 
himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his 



THE CHARIOT OF FIRE 327 

days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil 
upon his house." 

1 Kings, 21 

Read also the stories of " The Eorns of Iron and the False 
Prophet," 1 Kings, chap. 22; ** The Fire From Heaven" 2 
Kings, chap. 1 



THE CHARIOT OF FIRE 

And it came to pass, when the Lord would take 
up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah 
went with Elisha from Gilgal. 

And Elijah said unto Elisha, " Tarry here, I pray 
thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Beth-el." And 
Elisha said unto him, "As the Lord liveth, and 
as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee." So 
they went down to Beth-el. And the sons of the 
prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, 
and said unto him, "Knowest thou that the Lord 
will take away thy master from thy head to 
day? " And he said, " Yea, I know it; hold ye 
your peace." 

And Elijah said unto him, "Elisha, tarry here, 
I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho." 
And he said, "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul 
liveth, I will not leave thee." So they came to 
Jericho. And the sons of the prophets that were 
at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, 
" KJQowest thou that the Lord will take away thy 



S28 BIBLE STORIES 

master from thy head to day? " And he answered, 
" Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace." 

And Elijah said unto him, "Tarry, I pray thee, 
here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan." And 
he said, "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul 
liveth, I will not leave thee." And they two went 
on. 

i And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, 
and stood to view afar off : and they two stood by 
Jordan. And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped 
it together, and smote the waters, and they were 
divided hither and thither, so that they two went 
over on dry ground. 

And it came to pass, when they were gone over, 
that Elijah said unto Elisha, "Ask what I shall 
do for thee, before I be taken away from thee." 
And Elisha said, "I pray thee, let a double por- 
tion of thy spirit be upon me." And he said, 
"Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if 
thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall 
be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be 
so." 

And it came to pass, as they still went on, and 
talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of 
fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both 
asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into 
heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, "My 
father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the 
horsemen thereof!" And he saw him no more: 



THE CHARIOT OF FIRE 329 

and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent 
them in two pieces. 

He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell 
from him, and went back, and stood by the 
bank of Jordan. And he took the mantle of Eli- 
jah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and 
said, " Where is the Lord God of Elijah.? " and 
when he also had smitten the waters, they parted 
hither and thither: and Elisha went over. 

And when the sons of the prophets which 
were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, *' The 
spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha." And they 
came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the 
ground before him. 

And they said unto him, "Behold now, there 
be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them 
go, we pray thee, and seek thy master : lest per- 
adventure the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him 
up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into 
some valley." And he said, "Ye shall not send." 
And when they urged him till he was ashamed, 
he said, "Send." They sent therefore fifty men; 
and they sought three days, but found him not. 
And when they came again to him, (for he tarried 
at Jericho,) he said unto them, "Did I not say 
unto you, ' Go not? ' " 

2 Kings, 2 



330 BIBLE STORIES 

. THE WICKED LADS 

And the men of the city said unto Elisha, 
"Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city 
is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is 
naught, and the ground barren." 

And he said, " Bring me a new cruse^ and put 
salt therein." And they brought it to him. And 
he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and 
cast the salt in there, and said, "Thus saith the 
Lord, 'I have healed these waters; there shall 
not be from thence any more death or barren 
land.' " So the waters were healed unto this 
day, according to the saying of Elisha which he 
spake. 

And he went up from thence unto Beth-el. And 
as he was going up by the way, there came forth 
young lads out of the city, and mocked him, and 
said unto him, "Go up, thou bald head! Go up, 
thou bald head!" ' 

And he turned back, and looked on them, and 
cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there 
came forth two she bears out of the wood, and 
tare forty and two lads of them. 

And he went from thence to mount Carmel, 
and from thence he returned to Samaria. 

Kings, 2 

Read also the stories **Moab to the Spoil !" 2 Kings, chap. 8; 
** Elisha and the Little Child,'' 2 Kings, chap. 4 



DEATH IN THE POT 331 

DEATH IN THE POT 

And Elisha came again to Gilgal. And there 
was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the 
prophets were sitting before him. And he said 
unto his servant, "Set on the great pot, and 
seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets." 

And one went out into the field to gather herbs, 
and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild 
gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into 
the pot of pottage: for they knew them not. 

So they poured out for the men to eat. And it 
came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, 
that they cried out, and said, "O thou man of 
God, there is death in the pot." And they could 
not eat thereof. 

But he said, "Then bring meal." And he cast 
it into the pot; and he said, "Pour out for the 
people, that they may eat." And there was no 
harm in the pot. 

And there came a man from Baal-shalisha, and 
brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, 
twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in 
the husk thereof. And he said, "Give unto the 
people, that they may eat." And his servitor* said, 
" What, should I set this before an hundred men? " 
He said again, "Give the people, that they may 
eat: for thus saith the Lord, *They shall eat, and 
shall leave thereof.'" So he set it before them, 



332 BIBLE STORIES 

and they did eat, and left thereof, according to 
the word^of the Lord. 

2 Kings, 4 



NAAMAN THE LEPER AND THE 
LITTLE MAID OF ISRAEL 

Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king 
of Syria, was a great man with his master, and 
honourable, because by him the Lord had given 
deliverance unto Syria. He was also a mighty 
man in valour, but he was a leper. 

And the Syrians had gone out by companies, 
and had brought away captive out of the land of 
Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's 
wife. And she said unto her mistress, "Would 
God my lord were with the prophet that is in 
Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy." 

And one went in, and told his lord, saying, 
"Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land 
of Israel." And the king of Syria said, "Go to, 
go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel." 
And he departed, and took with him ten talents 
of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten 
changes of raiment. 

And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, 
saying, "Now when this letter is come unto thee, 
behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my ser- 
vant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of 



NAAMAN THE LEPER 333 

his leprosy." And it came to pass, when the king 
of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his 
clothes, and said, "Am I God, to kill and to make 
alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover 
a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray 
you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against 
me." 

And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had 
heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, 
that he sent to the king, saying, "Wherefore hast 
thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, 
and he shall know that there is a prophet in 
Israel." 

So Naaman came with his horses and with his 
chariot, and stood at the door of the house of 
Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, 
saying, "Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and 
thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt 
be clean." 

But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and 
said, "Behold, I thought, 'He will surely come out 
to me, and stand, and call on the name of the 
Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, 
and recover the leper.' Are not Abana and Phar- 
par, rivers of Damascus, better than all the 
waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be 
clean? " So he turned and went away in a rage. 

And his servants came near, and spake unto 
him, and said, " My father, if the prophet had 



334 BIBLE STORIES 

bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not 
have done it? how much rather then, when he 
saith to thee, *Wash, and be clean?'" 

Then went he down, and dipped himself seven 
times in Jordan, according to the saying of the 
man of God. And his flesh came again like unto 
the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 

And he returned to the man of God, he and all 
his company, and came, and stood before him: 
and he said, "Behold, now I know that there is 
no God in all the earth, but in Israel. Now there- 
fore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant." 

But he said, "As the Lord liveth, before whom 
I stand, I will receive none." And he urged him 
to take it; but he refused. 

And Naaman said, "Shall there not then, I 
pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' 
burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth 
offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto 
other gods, but unto the Lord. In this thing the 
Lord pardon thy servant, that when my master 
goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, 
and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in 
the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself 
in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon thy 
servant in this thing." 

And he said unto him, "Go in peace." So he 
departed from him a little way. 

2 Kings, 5 



THE PUNISHMENT OF GEHAZI 335 

THE PUNISHMENT OF GEHAZI 

But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of 
God, said, "Behold, my master hath spared 
Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands 
that which he brought: but, as the Lord liveth, 
I will run after him, and take somewhat of 
him." 

So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when 
Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted 
down from the chariot to meet him, and said, "Is 
all well?" 

And he said, "All is well. My master hath sent 
me, saying, * Behold, even now there be come to me 
from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons 
of the prophets. Give them, I pray thee, a talent 
of silver, and two changes of garments.' " 

And Naaman said, "Be content, take two 
talents." And he urged him, and bound two 
talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of 
garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; 
and they bare them before him. And when he 
came to the tower, he took them from their hand, 
and bestowed them in the house: and he let the 
men go, and they departed. 

But he went in, and stood before his master. 
And Elisha said unto him, "Whence comest thou, 
Gehazi?" And he said, "Thy servant went no 
whither." 



836 BIBLE STORIES 

And he said unto him, "Went not mine heart 
with thee, when the man turned again from his 
chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, 
and to receive garments, and oKveyards, and vine- 
yards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and 
maidservants? The leprosy therefore of Naaman 
shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for 
ever." 

And he went out from his presence a leper as 
white as snow. 

2 Kings, 5 

Another interesting story, is " The Siege of Samaria,^* 
2 Kings, chaps. 6 and 7 

THE DRIVING OF JEHU THE SON OF 
NIMSHI 

And Elisha the prophet called one of the chil- 
dren of the prophets, and said unto him, "Gird up 
thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, 
and go to Ramoth-gilead. And when thou com- 
est thither, look out there Jehu the son of Je- 
hoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make 
him arise up from among his brethren, and carry 
him to an inner chamber. Then take the box of 
oil, and pour it on his head, and say, 'Thus saith 
the Lord, " I have anointed thee king over Is- 
rael." ' Then open the door, and flee, and tarry 
not." 



THE DRIVING OF JEHU 337 

So the young man, even the young man the 
prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead. And when he 
came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; 
and he said, " I have an errand to thee, O captain." 
And Jehu said, "Unto which of all us?" And he 
said, "To thee, O captain." 

And he arose, and went into the house. And he 
poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, 
"Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, ' I have 
anointed thee king over the people of the Lord, 
even over Israel. And thou shalt smite the house 
of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood 
of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all 
the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel. 
For the whole house of Ahab shall perish. And I 
will make the house of Ahab like the house of 
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house 
of Baasha the son of Ahijah. And the dogs shall 
eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there 
shall be none to bury her.' " And he opened the 
door, and fled. 

Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his 
lord. And one said unto him, "Is all well.? where- 
fore came this mad fellow to thee.^^ " And he said 
unto them, "Ye know the man, and his com- 
munication." And they said, "It is false; tell us 
now." And he said, "Thus and thus spake he to 
me, saying, ' Thus saith the Lord, " I have anointed 
thee king over Israel." '" 



338 BIBLE STORIES 

Then they hasted, and took every man his 
garment, and put it under him on the top of the 
stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, "Jehu is 
king." 

So Jehu the son of Jeshoshaphat the son of 
Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram 
had kept Ramoth-gilead, he and all Israel, be- 
cause of Hazael king of Syria. But king Joram 
was returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds 
which the Syrians had given him, when he fought 
with Hazael king of Syria.) 

And Jehu said, "If it be your minds, then let 
none go forth nor escape out of the city to go 
to tell it in Jezreel." So Jehu rode in a chariot, 
and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And 
Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see 
Joram. ^ 

And there stood a watchman on the tower in 
Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he 
came, and said, "I see a company." And Joram 
said, " Take an horseman, and send to meet them, 
and let him say, 'Is it peace.^^'" 

So there went one on horseback to meet him, 
and said, "Thus saith the king, 'Is it peace.^^'" 
And Jehu said, "What hast thou to do with peace.'* 
turn thee behind me." And the watchman told, 
saying, "The messenger came to them, but he 
Cometh not again." 

^ See pages 354-55. 



THE DRIVING OF JEHU 339 

Then he sent out a second on horseback, 
which came to them, and said, "Thus saith the 
king, *Is it peace?'" And Jehu answered, "What 
hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind 
me." 

And the watchman told, saying, "He came even 
unto them, and cometh not again. And the driv- 
ing is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; 
for he driveth furiously." 

And Joram said, "Make ready." And his chariot 
was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and 
Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his char- 
iot, and they went out against Jehu, and met him 
in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite. 

And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, 
that he said, "Is it peace, Jehu?" 

And he answered, "What peace, so long as the 
idolatrous doings of thy mother Jezebel and her 
witchcrafts are so many?" 

And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said 
to Ahaziah, "There is treachery, O Ahaziah." 

And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and 
smote Joram between his arms, and the arrow 
went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his 
chariot. 

Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain, "Take 
up, and cast him in the portion of the field 
of Naboth the Jezreelite. For remember how 
that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab 



340 BIBLE STORIES 

his father, the Lord laid this burden upon him; 
' Surely 1 have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, 
and the blood of his sons,' saith the Lord; 'and 
I will requite thee in this plat,' saith the Lord. 
Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of 
ground, according to the word of the Lord." 

And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel 
heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired 
her head, and looked out at a window. And as 
Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, "Had Zimri 
peace, who slew his master.'^ " 

And he lifted up his face to the window, and 
said, "Who is on my side.? who.^^" And there 
looked out to him two or three eunuchs. And he 
said, "Throw her down." So they threw her 
down : and some of her blood was sprinkled on the 
wall, and on the horses. And he trode her under 
foot. 

And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, 
and said, "Go, see now this cursed woman, and 
bury her; for she is a king's daughter." 

And they went to bury her; but they found no 
more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the 
palms of her hands. Wherefore they came again, 
and told him. And he said, " This is the word of 
the Lord, which he spake by his servant Elijah 
the Tishbite, saying, *In the portion of Jezreel 
shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel. And the carcase 
of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the 



GOD PREPARED A GREAT FISH 341 

field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall 
not say, '' This is Jezebel." ' " 

2 Kings, 9 

Other interesting stories are, **Ahab's Seventy Sons," 2 KingSy 
chap. 10; " The Story of the Bow and Arrows,'' 2 Kings, chap, 
13, verses, U-21 



AND GOD PREPARED A GREAT 
FISH 

Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah 
the son of Amittai, saying, " Arise, go to Nineveh, 
that great city, and cry against it; for their wick- 
edness is come up before me." 

But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from 
the presence of the Lord, and went down to 
Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish. So 
he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, 
to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence 
of the Lord. 

But the Lord sent out a great wind into the 
sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, 
so that the ship was like to be broken. Then the 
mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto 
his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the 
ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. 

But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the 
ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. So the ship- 
master came to him, and said unto him, "What 



342 BIBLE STORIES 

meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy 
God, if" so be that God will think upon us, that 
we perish not." 

And they said every one to his fellow, "Come, 
and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose 
cause this evil is upon us." So they cast lots, and 
the lot fell upon Jonah. Then said they unto him, 
*'Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil 
is upon us. What is thine occupation .^^ and whence 
comest thou.f^ what is thy country .^^ and of what 
people art thou?" 

And he said unto them, "I am an Hebrew; and 
I fear the Lord, the God of Heaven, which hath 
made the sea and the dry land." 

Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and 
said unto him, "Why hast thou done this?" For 
the men knew that he fled from the presence of 
the Lord, because he had told them. Then said 
they unto him, "What shall we do unto thee, 
that the sea may be calm unto us?" for the sea 
wrought, and was tempestuous. 

And he said unto them, "Take me up, and cast 
me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm 
unto you : for I know that for my sake this great 
tempest is upon you." 

Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to 
the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, 
and was tempestuous against them. Wherefore 
they cried unto the Lord, and said, "We beseech 



GOD PREPARED A GREAT FISH 343 

thee, O Lord, we beseech thee, let us not perish 
for this man's life, and lay^not upon us innocent 
blood: for thou, O Lord, hast done as it pleased 
thee." So they took up Jonah, and cast him 
forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her 
raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceed- 
ingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and 
made vows. 

Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to 
swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly 
of the fish three days and three nights. Then 
Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the 
fish's belly, and said : — 

"I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the 
Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell 
cried I, and thou heardest my voice. 

"For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the 
midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me 
about : all thy billows and thy waves passed over 
me. 

"Then I said, * I am cast out of thy sight; yet 
I will look again toward thy holy temple.' 

"The waters compassed me about, even to the 
soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds 
were wrapped about my head. 

"I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; 
the earth with her bars was about me for ever: 
yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, 
O Lord my God. 



S44 BIBLE STORIES 

"When my soul fainted within me I remem- 
bered "^the Lord : and my prayer came in unto 
thee, into thine holy temple. 

"They that observe lying vanities forsake their 
own mercy. 

"But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of 
thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. 
Salvation is of the Lord." 

And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it 
vomited out Jonah upon the dry land. 

Jonah, 1, 2 



THE DOOM OF NINEVEH 

And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah 
the second time, saying, "Arise, go unto Nineveh, 
that great city, and preach unto it the preaching 
that I bid thee." 

So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, ac- 
cording to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was 
an exceeding great city of three days' journey. 
And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's 
journey, and he cried, and said, "Yet forty days, 
and Nineveh shall be overthrown." 

So the people of Nineveh believed God, and 
proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the 
greatest of them even to the least of them. For 
word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he 
arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from 



THE GOURD AND GOD'S PITY 345 

him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat 
in ashes. 

And he caused it to be proclaimed and published 
through Nineveh by the decree of the king and 
his nobles, saying, "Let neither man nor beast, 
herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, 
nor drink water. But let man and beast be cov- 
ered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God. 
Yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, 
and from the violence that is in their hands. 
Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and 
turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish 
not?" 

And God saw their works, that they turned 
from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, 
that he had said that he would do unto them; 
and he did it not. 

Jonah, 3 

THE GOURD AND GOD'S PITY 

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he 
was very angry. And he prayed unto the Lord, 
and said, "I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my 
saying, when I was yet in my country.^ There- 
fore I fled before unto Tarshish. For I knew that 
thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to 
anger, and of great kindness, and repentest 
thee of the evil. Therefore now, O Lord, take, I 



346 BIBLE STORIES 

beseech thee, my Hfe from me; for it is better 
for me to die than to live." 

Then said the Lord, "Doest thou well to be 
angry?" 

i So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the 
east side of the city, and there made him a booth, 
and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see 
what would become of the city. 

And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and 
made it to come up over Jonah, that it might 
be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from 
his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the 
gourd. 

But God prepared a worm when the morning 
rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it 
withered. And it came to pass, when the sun did 
arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; 
and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that 
he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, 
"It is better for me to die than to live." 

And God said to Jonah, "Doest thou well to 
be angry for the gourd.^^" And he said, "I do well 
to be angry, even unto death." 

Then said the Lord, "Thou hast had pity on 
the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, 
neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, 
and perished in a night. And should not I spare 
Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than 
sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern 



THE TEN TRIBES CARRIED AWAY 347 

between their right hand and their left hand; and 
also much cattle? " 

Jonah, 4 

Alore about Jonah, *' The Word of the Lord by Jonah," 
2 Kings, chap. 14, verses 23-29; ''As Jonas Was,'' Matthew, 
chap. 12, verses 38-4-5; " The Sign of the Prophet Jonas," 
Matthew, chap. 16, verses 1-4 



THE TEN TRIBES CARRIED AWAY 

In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began 
Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over 
Israel nine years. And he did that which was evil 
in the sight of the Lord, but not as the kings of 
Israel that were before him. 

Against him came up Shalmaneser king of As- 
syria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave 
him presents. And the king of Assyria found con- 
spiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers 
to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to 
the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. 
Therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and 
bound him in prison. 

Then the king of Assyria came up throughout 
all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged 
it three years. 

In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria 
took Samaria, and carried Israel away into As- 
syria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by 
the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. 



348 BIBLE STORIES 

For so it was, that the children of Israel had 
sinned against the Lord their God, which had 
brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from 
under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had 
feared other gods, and walked in the statutes of 
the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before 
the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, 
which they had made. 

And the children of Israel did secretly those 
things that were not right against the Lord their 
God, and they built them high places in all their 
cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the 
fenced city. And they set them up images and 
groves in every high hill, and under every green 
tree: and there they burnt incense in all the high 
places, as did the heathen whom the Lord carried 
away before them; and wrought wicked things to 
provoke the Lord to anger: for they served idols, 
whereof the Lord had said unto them, "Ye shall 
not do this thing." 

Yet the Lord testified against Israel, and against 
Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, 
saying, "Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep 
my commandments and my statutes, according to 
all the law which I commanded your fathers, and 
which I sent to you by my servants the prophets." 
Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hard- 
ened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, 
that did not believe in the Lord their God. 



THE TEN TRIBES CARRIED AWAY 349 

And they rejected his statutes, and his cove- 
nant that he made with their fathers, and his 
testimonies which he testified against them; and 
they followed vanity, and became vain, and went 
after the heathen that were round about them, 
concerning whom the Lord had charged them, 
that they should not do like them. 

And they left all the commandments of the 
Lord their God, and made them molten images, 
even two calves, and made a grove, and wor- 
shipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. 
And they caused their sons and their daughters 
to pass through the fire, and used divination and 
enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in 
the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. 

Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, 
and removed them out of his sight : there was none 
left but the tribe of Judah only. 

Also Judah kept not the commandments of 
the Lord their God, but walked in the statutes of 
Israel which they made. 

And the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel, and 
afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand 
of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight. 
For he rent Israel from the house of David; and 
they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. And 
Jeroboam drave Israel from following the Lord, 
and made them sin a great sin. For the children 
of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which 



350 BIBLE STORIES 

he did; they departed not from them; until the 
Lord removed Israel out of his sight, as he had 
said by all his servants the prophets. 

So was Israel carried away out of their own land 
to Assyria unto this day. 

2 Kings, 17 

Read about " The Samaritans from Assyriay' 2 Kings y 
chap, 17 



8k%Si)itiofttirM)43uidi 



Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy 
hand shall he in the neck of thine enemies; thy father s children 
shall how down hefore thee. Judah is a lion's whelp: from the 
prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a 
lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up ? The sceptre 
shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver until Shiloh come; 
and unto him shall the gathering of the people he. 

Genesis, 49 



THE EVIL REIGN OF REHOBOAM 



ND Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned 
in Judah. Rehoboam was forty and one 
Vears old when he began to reign, and he 
reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city 
which the Lord did choose out of all the 
tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And 
his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess. 
And Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord, 
and they provoked him to jealousy with their 
sins which they had committed, above all that 
their fathers had done. 

For they also built them high places, and images, 
and groves, on every high hill, and under every 
green tree, and they did according to all the 
abominations of the nations which the Lord cast 
out before the children of Israel. 

And it came to pass in the fifth year of king 
Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up 
against Jerusalem. And he took away the treas- 
ures of the house of the Lord, and the treas- 
ures of the king's house; he even took away all. 
And he took away all the shields of gold which 
Solomon had made. 

And king Rehoboam made in their stead bra- 
zen shields, and committed them unto the hands 



354 BIBLE STORIES 

of the chief of the guard, which kept the door 
of the king's house. And it was so, when the king 
went into the house of the Lord, that the guard 
bare them, and brought them back into the 
guard chamber. 

Now the rest of the acts of Behoboam, and all 
that he did, are they not written in the book of 
the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there 
was war between Behoboam and Jeroboam ^ all 
their days. And Behoboam slept with his fathers, 
and was buried with his fathers in the city of 
David. And his mother's name was Naamah an 
Ammonitess. And Abijam his son reigned in his 
stead. 

1 Kings, 14 

Read *' How Asa Cleansed Judah of Idols," 2 Chronicles y 
chap. 14, and chaps. 15 and 16 



THE LITTLE HIDDEN KING 

In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab 
king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Joram king 
of Judah begin to reign. 

Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when 
he regan to reign; and he reigned one year in 
Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Athaliah 
the daughter of Omri king of Israel. He also 
walked in the ways of the house of Ahab : for his 

See page 338. 



THE LITTLE HIDDEN KING 355 

mother was his counsellor to do wickedly. Where- 
fore he did evil in the sight of the Lord like the 
house of Ahab : for they were his counsellors, after 
the death of his father, to his destruction. 

He walked also after their counsel, and went 
with Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war 
against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead : 
and the Syrians smote Joram. And he returned 
to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds 
which were given him at Ramah, when he fought 
with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son 
of Joram king of Judah went down to see Joram 
the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick. 

And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by 
coming to Joram : for when he was come, he went 
out with Joram against Jehu the son of Nimshi. 
whom the Lord had anointed to cut off the house 
of Ahab. And it came to pass, that, when Jehu 
was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, 
and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of 
the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Aha- 
ziah, he slew them. And he sought Ahaziah: and 
they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria,) 
and brought him to Jehu: and wheii they had 
slain him, they buried him: "Because," said they, 
"he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the 
Lord with all his heart." So the house of Ahaziah 
had no power to keep still the kingdom. 

And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw 



356 BIBLE STORIES 

that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed 
all the seed royal. But Jehosheba, the daughter 
of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, (the wife of Je- 
hoiadathe priest,) took Joash the son of Ahaziah, 
and stole him from among the king's sons which 
were slain; and they hid him, even him and his 
nurse, in the bed-chamber from Athaliah, so that 
he was not slain. And he was with her hid in 
the house of the Lord six years. And Athaliah 
did reign over the land. 

And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched 
the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and 
the guard, and brought them to him into the 
house of the Lord, and made a covenant with 
them, and took an oath of them in the house of 
the Lord, and shewed them the king's son. And 
he said unto them, " Behold, the king's son 
shall reign, as the Lord hath said of the sons of 
David." 

And he commanded them, saying, " This is the 
thing that ye shall do. A third part of you that 
enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of 
the watch of the king's house. And a third part 
shall be at the gate of Sur. And a third part at 
the gate behind the guard. So shall ye keep the 
watch of the house, that it be not broken down. 
And two parts of all you that go forth on the sab- 
bath, even they shall keep the watch of the house 
of the Lord about the king. And ye shall compass 



THE LITTLE HIDDEN KING 357 

the king round about, every man with his weapons 
in his hand. And he that cometh within the 
ranges, let him be slain. And be ye with the king 
as he goeth out and as he cometh in." 

And the captains over the hundreds did ac- 
cording to all things that Jehoiada the priest 
commanded. And they took every man his men 
that were to come in on the sabbath, with them 
that should go out on the sabbath, and came 
to Jehoiada the priest. And to the captains 
over hundreds did the priest give king David's 
spears and shields, that were in the temple of the 
Lord. 

And the guard stood, every man with his wea- 
pons in his hand, round about the king, from the 
right corner of the temple to the left corner of the 
temple, along by the altar and the temple. And 
he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown 
upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they 
made him king, and anointed him; and they 
clapped their hands, and said, "God save the 
king!" 

And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard 
and of the people, she came to the people into the 
temple of the Lord. And when she looked, behold, 
the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and 
the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and 
all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with 
trumpets. 



3^ BIBLE STOEIES 

And Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, * * Trea- 
son! Treason! " 

But Jehoiada the priest commanded the cap- 
tains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and 
said unto them, "Have her forth without the 
ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the 
sword." For the priest had said, "Let her not 
be slain in the house of the Lord." 

And they laid hands on her; and she went by 
the way by the which the horses came into the 
king's house: and there was she slain. 

And Jehoiada made a covenant between the 
Lord and the king and the people, that they should 
be the Lord's people; between the king also and 
the people. And all the people of the land went 
into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his al- 
tars and his images brake they in pieces tho- 
roughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before 
the altars. And the priest appointed officers over 
the house of the Lord. 

And he took the rulers over hundreds, and the 
captains, and the guard, and all the people of the 
land; and they brought down the king from 
the house of the Lord, and came by the way of the 
gate of the guard to the king's house. And he sat 
on the throne of the kings. And all the people of 
the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and 
they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the 
king's house. 



THE ASSYRIANS SMITTEN 359 

Seven years old was Joash when he began to 
reign. 

2 Kings, 8, 11; 2 Chronicles, 22, 23 

Read also the story of ** The Thistle that Was in Lebanon" 
2 Kings, chap. 14-; " The Evil Reign of King Ahaz," 2 Kings, 
chap. 16 



HOW THE ANGEL OF THE LORD 

SMOTE THE ASSYRIANS BY 

NIGHT 

Now it came to pass that Hezekiah the son of 
Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. Twenty and 
five years old was he when he began to reign; and 
he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. 
His mother's name also was Abi, the daughter of 
Zachariah. 

And he did that which was right in the sight of 
the Lord, according to all that David his father 
did. He removed the high places, and brake the 
images, and cut down the groves, and brake in 
pieces the brazen serpent ^ that Moses had made. 
For unto those days the children of Israel did 
burn incense to it: and he called it " Nehushtan," 
(that is a piece of brass.) 

He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that 
after him was none like him among all the kings 
of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he 

* Seepage 170. 



360 BIBLE STORIES 

clave to the Lord, and departed not from follow- 
ing him, but kept his commandments, which the 
Lord commanded Moses. 

And the Lord was with him; and he prospered 
whithersoever he went forth. And he rebelled 
against the king of Assyria, and served him not. 
He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the 
borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen 
to the fenced city. 

Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah 
did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against 
all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them. 
And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of 
Assyria to Lachish, saying, " I have offended; re- 
turn from me. That which thou puttest on me will 
I bear." And the king of Assyria appointed unto 
Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of 
silver and thirty talents of gold. And Hezekiah 
gave him all the silver that was found in the house 
of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's 
house. At that time did Hezekiah cut off the 
gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord, and 
from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah 
had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria. 

And the king of Assyria sent messengers again 
unto Hezekiah, saying, **Thus shall ye speak to 
Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, *Let not thy God 
in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, " Jeru- 



THE ASSYRIANS SMITTEN 361 

salem shall not be delivered into the hand of the 
king of Assyria." Behold, thou hast heard what 
the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by 
destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be de- 
livered? Have the gods of the nations delivered 
them which my fathers have destroyed? Where 
is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and 
the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and 
Ivah?'" 

And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand 
of the messengers, and read it : and Hezekiah went 
up into the house of the Lord, and spread it before 
the Lord. 

And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and 
said, " O Lord God of Israel, which dwellest be- 
tween the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou 
alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast 
made heaven and earth. Lord, bow down thine 
ear, and hear. Open, Lord, thine eyes, and see: 
and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath 
sent him to reproach the living God. Of a truth, 
Lord, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the na- 
tions and their lands, and have cast their gods 
into the fire : for they were no gods, but the work 
of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they 
have destroyed them. Now therefore, O Lord our 
God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, 
that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that 
thou art the Lord God, even thou only." 



362 BIBLE STORIES 

Then Isaiali the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, 
saying, ''Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, 'That 
which thou hast prayed to me against Sennac- 
herib king of Assyria I have heard.' This is the 
word that the Lord hath spoken concerning him; 
* The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised 
thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of 
Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee. Whom 
hast thou reproached and blasphemed.^ and 
against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and 
lifted up thine eyes on high.^^ even against the 
Holy One of Israel. 

"'By thy messengers thou hast reproached the 
Lord, and hast said, " With the multitude of my 
chariots I am come up to the height of the moun- 
tains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down 
the tall cedar trees thereof, and the choice fir trees 
thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his 
borders, and into the forest of his Carmel. I have 
digged and drunk strange waters, and with the 
sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of 
besieged places." 

"'Hast thou not heard long ago how I have 
done it, and of ancient times that I have formed 
it.f^ now have I brought it to pass, that thou 
shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruin- 
ous heaps. Therefore their inhabitants were of 
small power, they were dismayed and confounded; 
they were as the grass of the field, and as the 



THE ASSYRIANS SMITTEN 363 

green herb, as the grass on the house tops, and as 
corn blasted before it be grown up. 

***But I know thy abode, and thy going out, 
and thy coming in, and thy rage against me. Be- 
cause thy rage against me and thy tumult is come 
up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook 
in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will 
turn thee back by the way by which thou camest. 

"*And this shall be a sign unto thee, ye shall 
eat this year such things as grow of themselves, 
and in the second year that which springeth of the 
same; and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and 
plant vineyards, and eat the fruits thereof. And 
the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah 
shall yet again take root downward, and bear 
fruit upward. For out of Jerusalem shall go forth 
a remnant, and they that escape out of mount 
Zion: the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this.' 

"Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the 
king of Assyria, * He shall not come into this city, 
nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with 
shield, nor cast a bank against it. By the way that 
he came, by the same shall he return, and shall 
not come into this city,' saith the Lord. *For I 
will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, 
and for my servant David's sake.' " 

And it came to pass that night, that the angel of 
the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the 
Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thou- 



364 BIBLE STORIES 

sand : ^and when they arose early in the morning, 
behold, they were all dead corpses. So Sennac- 
herib king of Assyria departed, and went and re- 
turned, and dwelt at Nineveh. 

, And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in 
the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech 
and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword : 
and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And 
Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead. 

2 Kings, 18, 19 

Other interesting stories are, " The First Message and How 
the Assyrians Reproached the Living God," 2 Kings, chaps. 18 
and 19; " The Shadow that Went Backward Ten Degrees,'* 
2 Kings, chap. 20 



TO WHOM WILL YE LIKEN GOD.?> 

To whom then will ye liken God.^^ or what like- 
ness will ye compare unto him.? The workman 
melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith 
spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver 
chains. He that is so impoverished that he hath 
no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he 
seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare 
a graven image, that shall not be moved. 

Have ye not known .f* have ye not heard ? hath 
it not been told you from the beginning .^^ have ye 
not understood from the foundations of the earth .f^ 
It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, 



TO WHOM WILL YE LIKEN GOD? 365 

and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; 
that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and 
spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: that 
bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the 
judges of the earth as vanity. Yea, they shall not 
be planted; yea, they shall not be sown; yea, 
their stock shall not take root in the earth: and 
he shall also blow upon them, and they shall 
wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away 
as stubble. 

" To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be 
equal .^ " saith the Holy One. 

Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath 
created these things, that bringeth out their host 
by number. He calleth them all by names by the 
greatness of his might, for that he is strong in 
power; not one faileth. 

Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O 
Israel, "My way is hid from the Lord, and my 
judgment is passed over from my God.f^" 

Hast thou not known.^^ hast thou not heard, that 
the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the 
ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? 
there is no searching of his understanding. 

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that 
have no might he increaseth strength. Even the 
youths shall faint and be weary, and the young 
men shall utterly fall : but they that wait upon the 
Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount 



366 BIBLE STORIES 

up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be 
weary;' and they shall walk, and not faint. 

Isaiah, 40 

0/ idol-worship; " Israel's Sin/' Psalm 106; " The Graven 
Image,*' Isaiah, chaps. 1^1^, and 46; " The Worship of Angels," 
Colossians, chap. 2, verses 18-23; " The Priest of Jupiter y'* 
Acts, chap. 14; " Great is Diana of the Ephesians," Acts, 
chap. 19 



THE ABOMINATIONS OF MANASSEH 

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began 
to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jeru- 
salem. And his mother's name was Hephzi- 
bah. 

And he did that which was evil in the sight of 
the Lord, after the abominations of the heathen, 
whom the Lord cast out before the children of 
Israel. For he built up again the high places which 
Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared 
up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab 
king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of 
heaven, and served them. And he built altars in 
the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said, 
" In Jerusalem will I put my name." And he built 
altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts 
of the house of the Lord. 

And he made his son pass through the fire, and 
observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt 
with familiar spirits and wizards. He wrought 



ABOMINATIONS OF MANASSEH 367 

much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to 
provoke him to anger. 

And he set a carved image, the idol which he 
had made, in the house of God, of which God had 
said to David and to Solomon his son, "In this 
house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen be- 
fore all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for 
ever. Neither will I make the feet of Israel move 
any more out of the land which I gave their 
fathers; only if they will observe to do according 
to all that I have commanded them, and accord- 
ing to all the law that my servant Moses com- 
manded them." 

But they hearkened not. And Manasseh se- 
duced them to do more evil than did the nations 
whom the Lord destroyed before the children of 
Israel. 

And the Lord spake by his servants the pro- 
phets, saying, "Because Manasseh king of Ju- 
dah hath done these abominations, and hath done 
wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which 
were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin 
with his idols : therefore thus saith the Lord God 
of Israel, ' Behold, I am bringing such evil upon 
Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of 
it, both his ears shall tingle. 

" 'And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of 
Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: 
and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, 



368 BIBLE STORIES 

wiping it, and turning it upside down. And I will 
forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and de- 
liver them into the hand of their enemies; and 
they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their 
enemies; because they have done that which was 
evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, 
since the day their fathers came forth out of 
Egypt, even unto this day.'" 

Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very 
much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to 
another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah 
to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of 
the Lord. 

Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all 
that he did, and his sin that he sinned, are they 
not written in the book of the chronicles of the 
kings of Judah? And Manasseh slept with his 
fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own 
house, in the garden of Uzza : and Amon his son 
reigned in his stead. 

2 Kings, 21 

" How Manasseh Knew that the Lord He was God," 2 Chron- 
iclesy chap. 33 

THE BOY KING OF JUDAH 

JosiAH was eight years old when he began to 
reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in 
Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, 



THE BOY KING OF JUDAH 369 

the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath. And he did 
that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and 
walked in all the way of David his father, and 
turned not aside to the right hand or to the left. 

And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of 
king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the son 
of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to 
the house of the Lord, saying, "Go up to Hilkiah 
the high priest, that he may sum the silver which 
is brought into the house of the Lord, which the 
keepers of the door have gathered of the people. 
And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers 
of the work, that have the oversight of the house 
of the Lord. And let them give it to the doers of 
the work which is in the house of the Lord, to 
repair the breaches of the house, unto carpenters, 
and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and 
hewn stone to repair the house." 

Howbeit there was no reckoning made with 
them of the money that was delivered into their 
hand, because they dealt faithfully. 

And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan 
the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in 
the house of the Lord." And Hilkiah gave the 
book to Shaphan, and he read it. 

And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and 
brought the king word again, and said, " Thy ser- 
vants have gathered the money that was found 
in the house, and have delivered it into the hand 



370 BIBLE STORIES 

of them that do the work, that have the over- 
sight of the house of the Lord." And Shaphan 
the scribe shewed the king, saying, "Hilkiah the 
priest hath delivered me a book." And Shaphan 
read it before the king. 

And it came to pass, when the king had heard 
the words of the book of the law, that he rent his 
clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the 
priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and 
Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the 
scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying, 
" Go ye, enquire of the Lord for me, and for the 
people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of 
this book that is found : for great is the wrath of 
the Lord that is kindled against us, because our 
fathers have not hearkened unto the words of 
this book, to do according unto all that which is 
written concerning us." 

So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Ach- 
bor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto 
Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the 
son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the 
wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the col- 
lege;) and they communed with her. 

And she said unto them, "Thus saith the Lord 
God of Israel, ' Tell the man that sent you to me, 
thus saith the_Lord, "Behold, I will bring evil 
upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, 
even all the words of the book which the king of 



THE IDOLS' GROVES DESTROYED 371 

Judah hath read. Because they have forsaken 
me, and have burned incense unto other gods, 
that they might provoke me to anger with all the 
works of their hands; therefore my WTath shall 
be kindled against this place, and shall not be 
quenched." 

" ' But to the king of Judah which sent you to en- 
quire of the Lord, thus shall ye say to him, " Thus 
saith the Lord God of Israel, *As touching the 
words which thou hast heard; because thine heart 
was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before 
the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against 
this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, 
that they should become a desolation and a curse, 
and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; 
I also have heard thee,' saith the Lord. ' Behold 
therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and 
thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; 
and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I 
will bring upon this place.'" ' " 

And they brought the king word again. 

2 Kings, 22 

HOW THE BOY KING BROKE DOWN 
THE IDOLS' GROVES 

And the king sent, and they gathered unto him 
all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. And 
the king went up into the house of the Lord, and 



372 BIBLE STORIES 

all tlie men of Judah and all the inhabitants of 
Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the 
prophets, and all the people, both small and great. 
And he read in their ears all the words of the 
book of the covenant which was found in the 
house of the Lord. 

And the king stood by a pillar, and made a 
covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, 
and to keep his commandments and his testi- 
monies and his statutes with all their heart and 
all their soul, to perform the words of this cove- 
nant that were written in this book. And all the 
people stood to the covenant. 

And the king commanded Hilkiah the high 
priest, and the priests of the second order, and 
the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the 
temple of the Lord all the vessels that were made 
for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of 
heaven. And he burned them without Jerusalem 
in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of 
them unto Beth-el. 

And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom 
the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense 
in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in 
the places round about Jerusalem; them also that 
burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the 
moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of 
heaven. 

And he brought out the grove from the house 



THE IDOLS' GROVES DESTROYED 373 

of the Lord, without Jerusalem, unto the brook 
Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and 
stamped it small to powder, and cast the powder 
thereof upon the graves of the children of the 
people. 

And he brought all the priests out of the cities 
of Judah, and defiled the high places where the 
priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beer- 
sheba, and brake down the high places of the 
gates that were in the entering in of the gate of 
Joshua the governor of the city, which were on 
a man's left hand at the gate of the city. Never- 
theless the priests of the high places came not up 
to the altar of the Lord in Jerusalem, but they 
did eat of the unleavened bread among their 
brethren. 

And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley 
of the children of Hinnom, that no man might 
make his son or his daughter to pass through the 
fire to Molech. 

And he took away the horses that the kings of 
Judah had given to the sun, at the entering in of 
the house of the Lord, by the chamber of Nathan- 
melech the chamberlain, which was in the suburbs, 
and burned the chariots of the sun with fire. 

And the altars that were on the top of the upper 
chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had 
made, and the altars which Manasseh had made 
in the two courts of the house of the Lord, did the 



374 BIBLE STORIES 

king beat down, and brake them down from 
thence, and cast the dust of them into the brook 
Kidron. 

And the high places that were before Jerusalem, 
which were on the right hand of the mount of 
corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel 
had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the 
Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of 
the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination 
of the children of Ammon, [did the king defile. 
And he brake in pieces the images, and cut down 
the groves, and filled their places with the bones 
of men. 

Moreover the altar ^ that was at Beth-el, and 
the high place which Jeroboam the son of "Nebat, 
who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar 
and the high place he brake down, and burned the 
high place, and stamped it small to powder, and 
burned the grove. 

And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the 
sepulchres that were there in the mount, and 
sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, 
and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it, 
according to the word of the Lord which the man 
of God proclaimed, who proclaiined these words. 

Then he said, "What title is that that I see.?" 
And the men of the city told him, "It is the 
sepulchre of the man of God, which came from 

1 See page 309. 



THE IDOLS' GROVES DESTROYED 375 

Judah, and proclaimed these things that thou 
hast done against the altar of Beth-el." And he 
said, " Let him alone; let no man move his bones." 
So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the 
prophet that came out of Samaria. 

And all the houses also of the high places that 
were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of 
Israel had made to provoke the Lord to anger, 
Josiah took away, and did to them according to 
all the acts that he had done in Beth-el. And he 
slew all the priests of the high places that were 
there upon the altars, and burned men's bones 
upon them, and returned to Jerusalem. 

And the king commanded all the people, saying, 
"Keep the passover unto the Lord your God, as 
it is written in the book of this covenant." 

Surely there was not holden such a passover 
from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor 
in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the 
kings of Judah; but in the eighteenth year of 
king Josiah, wherein this passover was holden 
to the Lord in Jerusalem. 

Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and 
the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and 
all the abominations that were spied in the land 
of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, 
that he might perform the words of the law which 
were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest 
found in the house of the Lord. 



376 BIBLE STORIES 

And like unto him was there no king before him, 
that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and 
with all his soul, and with all his might, accord- 
ing to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose 
there any like him. 

Notwithstanding the Lord turned not from 
the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his 
anger was kindled against Judah, because of all 
the provocations that Manasseh had provoked 
him withal. And the Lord said, "I will remove 
Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed 
Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which 
I have chosen, and the house of which I said, 'My 
name shall be there.' " 

After all this, when Josiah had prepared the 
temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight 
against Charchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah 
went out against him. But he sent ambassadors 
to him, saying, "What have I to do with thee, 
thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this 
day, but against the house wherewith I have war : 
» for God commanded me to make haste. Forbear 
thee from meddling with God, who is with me, 
that he destroy thee not." 

Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face 
from him, but disguised himself, that he might 
fight with him, and hearkened not unto the 
words of Necho from the mouth of God, and 
came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. And 



THE PUNISHMENT OF JUDAH 377 

the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said 
to his servants, "Have me away; for I am sore 
wounded." i 

His servants therefore took him out of that 
chariot, and put him in the second chariot that 
he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and 
he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres 
of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem 
mourned for Josiah. 

And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah. And all the 
singing men and the singing women spake of Jo- 
siah in their lamentations to this day, and made 
them an ordinance in Israel; and, behold, they 
are written in the lamentations. 

Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his good- 
ness, according to that which was written in the 
law of the Lord, and his deeds, first and last, be- 
hold, they are written in the book of the kings of 
Israel and Judah. 

2 Kings, 23; 2 Chronicles, 35 

HOW THE LORD INTENDED TO 
PUNISH JUDAH FOR IDOLATRY 

The word that came to Jeremiah concerning 
all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoia- 
kim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the 
first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; 
the which Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all 



378 BIBLE STORIES 

the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of 
Jerusalem, saying : — 

"From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of 
Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is 
the three and twentieth year, the word of the 
Lord hath come unto me, and I have spoken 
unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have 
not hearkened. 

"And the Lord hath sent unto you all his ser- 
vants the prophets, rising early and sending them; 
but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear 
to hear. They said, *Turn ye again now every 
one from his evil way, and from the evil of your 
doings, and dwell in the land that the Lord hath 
given unto you and to your fathers for ever and 
ever. And go not after other gods to serve them, 
and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger 
with the works of your hands; and I will do you 
no hurt. Yet ye have not hearkened unto me,' 
saith the Lord; *that ye might provoke me to 
anger with the works of your hands to your own 
hurt.' 

"Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; 'Be- 
cause ye have not heard my words, behold, I will 
send and take all the families of the north,' saith 
the Lord, *and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Baby- 
lon, my servant, and will bring them against this 
land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and 
against all these nations round about, and will 



THE PUNISHMENT OF JUDAH 379 

utterly destroy them, and make them an astonish- 
ment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations. 

"* Moreover I will take from them the voice of 
mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the 
bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound 
of the millstones, and the light of the candle. And 
this whole land shall be a desolation, and an as- 
tonishment; and these nations shall serve the 
king of Babylon seventy years. 

" * And it shall come to pass, when seventy years 
are accomplished, that I will punish the king of 
Babylon, and that nation,' saith the Lord, 'for 
their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and 
will make it perpetual desolations. And I will 
bring upon that land all my words which I have 
pronounced against it, even all that is written in 
this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against 
all the nations. For many nations and great kings 
shall serve themselves of them also: and I will 
recompense them according to their deeds, and 
according to the works of their own hands.'" 

Jeremiah, 25 

Interesting stories about the Prophet Jeremiah are ''How as 
a Child He Was Called to Be a Prophet,'' Jeremiah, chap. 1; 
*'How Jeremiah was Put in the Stocks," Jeremiah, chaps. 19 
and 20; " The Two Baskets of Figs," Jeremiah, chap. 2k; " The 
Yoke of Wood and the Yoke of Iron," Jeremiah, chaps. 27 and 
28; "The Rechahites," Jeremiah, chap. 35; ''Jeremiah Cast 
into the Dungeon" Jeremiah, chap. 88, "The Doom of Baby- 
lon," Jeremiah, chaps. 50 and 51. Read also " How Nebuchad- 
nezzar Became Ruler over Jerusalem" 2 Kings, chap. 24 



380 BIBLE STORIES 

HOW THE PEOPLE OF JUDAH WERE 
CARRIED CAPTIVES TO BABYLON 

And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah king 
of Judah, and changed his name to Zedekiah. 
Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he 
began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in 
Jerusalem. And he did that which was evil in the 
sight of the Lord. For through the anger of the 
Lord it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, 
until he had cast them out from his presence, that 
Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. 
' In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in 
the tenth month, came Nebuchadnezzar king of 
Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and 
they besieged it. And in the eleventh year of Zede- 
kiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the 
month, the city was broken up. 

And all the princes of the king of Babylon 
came in, and sat in the middle gate. And it came 
to pass, that when Zedekiah the king of Judah 
saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, 
and went forth out of the city by night, by the 
way of the king's garden, by the gate betwixt the 
two walls : and he went out the way of the plain. 

But the Chaldeans' army pursued after them, 
and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. 
And when they had taken him, they brought him 
up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah 



CAPTIVITY OF THE JUD^ANS 381 

in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment 
upon him. 

Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zede- 
kiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of 
Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah. Moreover 
he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him with 
chains, to carry him to Babylon. And the Chal- 
deans burned the king's house, and the houses of 
the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of 
Jerusalem. 

Then Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard 
carried away captive into Babylon the remnant 
of the people that remained in the city, and those 
that fell away, that fell to him, with the rest of 
the people that remained. 

But Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard 
left of the poor of the people, which had nothing, 
in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards 
and fields at the same time. 

And as for the people that remained in the land 
of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon 
had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the 
son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler. 

Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave 
charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzar-adan the 
captain of the guard, saying, "Take him, and look 
well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him 
even as he shall say unto thee." 

So Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard sent, 



382 BIBLE STORIES 

and all the king of Babylon's princes; even they 
sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the 
prison, and committed him unto Gedaliah the 
son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he should 
carry him home: so he dwelt among the people. 
So Judah was carried away out of their land. 
Jeremiah, 39; 2 Kings, 24, 25 

Read also *'How the King's Daughters and the People Left 
in Judah Disobeyed the Lord and Went Down into Egypt/* 
Jeremiah, chap. 4.3; and ''How They Burned Incense to the 
Queen of Heaven,'* Jeremiah, chap. 44 



QkBob^^lottianCaptbil^ 



By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, 
when we remembered Zion. 

We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 

For there they that carried u^ away captive required of us a 
song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, 
*'Sing us one of the songs of Zion." 

How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land ? 

If I forget thee, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her 
cunning. 

If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of 
my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. 

Psalm 137 



THE FOUR WISE YOUTHS 

N the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim 
king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of 
Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. 
And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah 
into his hand, with part of the vessels of the 
house of God: which he carried into the land 
of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought 
the vessels into the treasure house of his god. 

And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master 
of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the 
children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of 
the princes ; youths in whom was no blemish, but 
well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cun- 
ning in knowledge, and understanding science, 
and such as had ability in them to stand in the 
king's palace, and whom they might teach the 
learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 

And the king appointed them a daily provision 
of the king's meat, and of the wine which he 
drank: so nourishing them three years, that at 
the end thereof they might stand before the king. 
Now among these were of the children of Judah, 
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Unto 
whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names : for 
he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; 



386 BIBLE STORIES 

and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of 
Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego. 

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would 
not defile himself with the portion of the king's 
meat, nor with the wine which he drank. There- 
fore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that 
he might not defile himself. Now God had brought 
Daniel into favour and tender love with the 
prince of the eunuchs. And the prince of the eu- 
nuchs said unto Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, 
who hath appointed your meat and your drink. 
For why should he see your faces worse liking 
than the youths which are of your sort.^ then 
shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.'' 

Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince 
of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, 
Mishael, and Azariah, *' Prove thy servants, I 
beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse 
to eat, and water to drink. Then let our counte- 
nances be looked upon before thee, and the 
countenance of the youths that eat of the portion 
of the king's meat. And as thou seest, deal with 
thy servants." 

So he consented to them in this matter^ and 
proved them ten days. 

And at the end of ten days their countenances 
appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the 
youths which did eat the portion of the king's 
meat. Thus Melzar took away the portion of their 



THE TERRIBLE IMAGE 387 

meat, and the wine that they should drink; and 
gave them pulse. 

As for these four youths God gave them know- 
ledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and 
Daniel had understanding in all visions and 
dreams. 

Now at the end of the days that the king had 
said he should bring them in, then the prince of 
the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchad- 
nezzar. And the king communed with them; and 
among them all was found 'none like Daniel, 
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah : therefore stood 
they before the king. And in all matters of wisdom 
and understanding, that the king enquired of 
them, he found them ten times better than all 
the magicians and astrologers that were in all his 
realm. 

And Daniel continued even unto the first year 
of king Cyrus. 

Daniel, 1 

THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE IMAGE 

And in the second year of the reign of Nebu- 
chadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, 
wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep 
brake from him. 

Then the king commanded to call the magi- 
cians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and 



388 BIBLE STORIES 

the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. 
So they came and stood before the king. 

And the king said unto them, "I have dreamed 
a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the 
dream." 

Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in the 
Syrian language, "O king, live for ever. Tell thy 
servants the dream, and we will shew the inter- 
pretation." 

The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, 
"The thing is gone from me. If ye will not make 
known unto me the dream, with the interpretation 
thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses 
shall be made a dunghill. But if ye shew the 
dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall 
receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour. 
Therefore shew me the dream, and the inter- 
pretation thereof." 

They answered again and said, "Let the king 
tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the 
interpretation of it." 

The king answered and said, "I know of cer- 
tainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see 
the thing is gone from me. But if ye will not make 
known unto me the dream, there is but one decree 
for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt 
words to speak before me, till the time be changed. 
Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that 
ye can shew me the interpretation thereof." 



THE TERRIBLE IMAGE 389 

The Chaldeans answered before the king, and 
said, "There is not a man upon the earth that can 
shew the king's matter. Therefore there is no 
king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any 
magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. And it is a 
rare thing that the king requireth, and there is 
none other that can shew it before the king, ex- 
cept the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh." 

For this cause the king was angry and very 
furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise 
men of Babylon. And the decree went forth that 
the wise men should be slain; and they sought 
Daniel and his fellows to be slain. 

Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom 
to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which 
was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon. 
He answered and said to Arioch the king's cap- 
tain, "Why is the decree so hasty from the king.? " 
Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. 

Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king 
that he would give him time, and that he would 
shew the king the interpretation. 

Then Daniel went to his house, and made the 
thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 
his companions : that they would desire mercies of 
the God of heaven concerning this secret; that 
Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the 
rest of the wise men of Babylon. 

Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a 



390 BIBLE STORIES 

night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of 
heaven. Daniel answered and said, "Blessed be 
the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom 
and might are his. And he change th the times 
and the seasons. He remove th kings, and setteth 
up kings. He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and 
knowledge to them that know understanding. 
He revealeth the deep and secret things. He 
knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light 
dwelleth with him. I thank thee, and praise thee, 
O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me 
wisdom and might, and hast made known unto 
me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast 
now made known unto us the king's matter." 

Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom 
the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of 
Babylon. He went and said thus unto him; "De- 
stroy not the wise men of Babylon. Bring me in 
before the king, and I will shew unto the king the 
interpretation." 

Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king 
in haste, and said thus unto him, "I have found 
a man of the captives of Judah, that will make 
known unto the king the interpretation." 

The king answered and said to Daniel, whose 
name was Belteshazzar, "Art thou able to make 
known unto me the dream which I have seen, and 
the interpretation thereof?" - 

Daniel answered in the presence of the king. 



THE TERRIBLE IMAGE 391 

and said, "The secret which the king hath de- 
manded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the 
magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king. 
But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, 
and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar 
what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and 
the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these : — 
"As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into 
thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass 
hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh 
known to thee what shall come to pass. But as for 
me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom 
that I have more than any living, but for their 
sakes that shall make known the interpretation 
to the king, and that thou mightest know the 
thoughts of thy heart. 

"Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great 
image. This great image, whose brightness was 
excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof 
was terrible. This image's head was of fine gold, 
his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his 
thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his feet part of 
iron and part of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone 
was cut out without hands, which smote the 
image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, 
and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the 
clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to 
pieces together, and became like the chajff of the 
summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried 



392 BIBLE STORIES 

them away, that no place was found for them. 
And the stone that smote the image became a 
great mountain, and filled the whole earth. 

"This is the dream; and we will tell the inter- 
pretation thereof before the king. Thou, O king, 
art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath 
given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and 
glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, 
the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven 
hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee 
ruler over them all. Thou art this head of. gold. 

"And after thee shall arise another kingdom, 
inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of 
brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. 

"And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as 
iron. Forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and 
subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh 
all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. 

"And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, 
part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom 
shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the 
strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the 
iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of 
the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the 
kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 
And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry 
clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed 
of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, 
even as iron is not mixed with clay. 



THE TERRIBLE IMAGE 393 

"And in the days of these kings shall the God 
of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be 
destroyed. And the kingdom shall not be left to 
other people, but it shall break in pieces and con- 
sume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for 
ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone 
was cut out of the mountain without hands, and 
that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the 
clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath 
made known to the king what shall come to pass 
hereafter : and the dream is certain, and the inter- 
pretation thereof sure." 

Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his 
face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded 
that they should offer an oblation and sweet 
odours unto him. 

The king answered unto Daniel, and said, "Of 
a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and 
a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing 
thou couldest reveal this secret." Then the king 
made Daniel a great man, and gave him many 
great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole 
province of Babylon, and chief of the governors 
over all the wise men of Babylon. 

Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set 
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the 
affairs of the province of Babylon : but Daniel sat 
in the gate of the king. 

Daniel, 2 



394 BIBLE STORIES 

THE BURNING FIERY FURNACE 

Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of 
gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the 
breadth thereof six cubits. He set it up in the 
plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather 
together the princes, the governors, and the cap- 
tains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, 
the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to 
come to the dedication of the image which Nebu- 
chadnezzar the king had set up. Then the princes, 
the governors, and captains, the judges, the treas- 
urers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the 
rulers of the provinces, were gathered together 
unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchad- 
nezzar the king had set up; and they stood before 
the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 

Then an herald cried aloud, "To you it is com- 
manded, O people, nations, and languages, that 
at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, 
flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all 
kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the 
golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath 
set up. And whoso falleth not down and wor- 
shippeth shall the same hour be cast into the 
midst of a burning fiery furnace." 

Therefore at that time, when all the people 
heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sack- 



THE BURNING FIERY FURNACE 395 

but, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the peo- 
ple, the nations, and the languages, fell down and 
worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnez- 
zar the king had set up. 

Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came 
near, and accused the Jews. They spake and said 
to the king Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live for 
ever. Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that 
every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, 
flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and 
all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the 
golden image: and whoso falleth not down and 
worshippeth, that he should be cast into the 
midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are cer- 
tain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of 
the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and 
Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not re- 
garded thee. They serve not thy gods, nor wor- 
ship the golden image which thou hast set up." 

Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury 
commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and 
Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before 
the king. 

Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, "Is 
it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, 
do not ye serve my gods nor worship the golden 
image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready 
that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, 
flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and 



396 BIBLE STORIES 

all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the 
image which I have made; well. But if ye worship 
not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst 
of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God 
that shall deliver you out of my hands?" 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered 
and said to the king, **0 Nebuchadnezzar, we are 
not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be 
so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us 
from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver 
us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it 
known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve 
thy gods, nor worship the golden image which 
thou hast set up." 

Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the 
form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, 
Meshach, and Abed-nego : therefore he spake, and 
commanded that they should heat the furnace 
one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 
And he commanded the most mighty men that 
were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and 
Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning 
fiery furnace. 

Then these men were bound in their mantles, 
their under-garments, and their turbans, and 
their other garments, and were cast into the 
midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore be- 
cause the king's commandment was urgent, and 
the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire 



THE BURNING FIERY FURNACE 397 

slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, 
and Abed-nego. And these three men, Shadrach, 
Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into 
the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, 
and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto 
his counsellors, "Did not we cast three men bound 
into the midst of the fire? " They answered and 
said unto the king, " True, O king." He answered 
and said, "Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the 
midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the 
form of the fourth is like a son of the gods." 

Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth 
of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, 
"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants 
of the most high God, come forth, and come 
hither." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- 
nego, came forth of the midst of the fire. And 
the princes, governors, and captains, and the 
king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw 
these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no 
power, nor was an hair of their head singed, 
neither were their coats changed, nor the smell 
of fire had passed on them. 

Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, "Blessed 
be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- 
nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his 
servants that trusted in him, and have changed 
the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that 



S98 BIBLE STORIES 

they might not serve nor worship any god, except 
their own God. Therefore I make a decree, that 
every people, nation, and language, which speak 
anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, 
Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, 
and their houses shall be made a dunghill : because 
there is no other God that can deliver after this 
sort." 

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, 
and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon. 

Daniel, 3 



THE PROUD KING, WHOSE HEART 
WAS LIFTED UP 

Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, 
nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; 
"Peace be multiplied unto you: — 

"I thought it good to shew the signs and won- 
ders that the high God hath wrought toward me. 
How great are his signs ! and how mighty are his 
wonders ! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, 
and his dominion is from generation to generation. 

** I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, 
and flourishing in my palace. I saw a dream which 
made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed 
and the visions of my head troubled me. There- 
fore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men 
of Babylon before me, that they might make 



THE PROUD KING 399 

known unto me the interpretation of the dream. 
Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the 
Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And I told the 
dream before them; but they did not make known 
unto me the interpretation thereof. 

*'But at the last Daniel came in before me, 
whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the 
name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the 
holy gods. And before him I told the dream, say- 
ing:— 

"*0 Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, be- 
cause I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in 
thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the 
visions of my dream that I have seen, and the in- 
terpretation thereof. 

"*Thus were the visions of mine head in my 
bed : I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the 
earth, and the height thereof was great. The tree 
grew, and was strong, and the height thereof 
reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the 
end of all the earth. The leaves thereof were fair, 
and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat 
for all. The beasts of the field had shadow under 
it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs 
thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. 

" * I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, 
and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down 
from heaven. He cried aloud, and said thus, " Hew 
down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off 



400 BIBLE STORIES 

his leaves, and scatter his fruit. Let the beasts 
get away from under it, and the fowls from his 
branches. Nevertheless leave the stump of his 
roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and 
brass, in the tender grass of the field ; and let it be 
wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion 
be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. Let 
his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's 
heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass 
over him. This matter is by the decree of the 
watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy 
ones : to the intent that the living may know that 
the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and 
giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up 
over it the basest of men." 

*''This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have 
seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the in- 
terpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise 
men of my kingdom are not able to make known 
unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; 
for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.' 

" Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, 
was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts 
troubled him. The king spake, and said, 'Bel- 
teshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation 
thereof, trouble thee.' 

" Belteshazzar answered and said, * My lord, the 
dream be to them that hate thee, and the in- 
terpretation thereof to thine enemies. The tree 



THE PROUD KING 401 

that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, 
whose height reached unto the heaven, and the 
sight thereof to all the earth; whose leaves were 
fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was 
meat for all; under which the beasts of the field 
dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the 
heaven had their habitation : it is thou, O King, 
that art grown and become strong : for thy great- 
ness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy 
dominion to the end of the earth. And whereas 
the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming 
down from heaven, and saying, *Hew the tree 
down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the 
roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of 
iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and 
let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his 
portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven 
times pass over him.' 

"'This is the interpretation, O king, and this 
is the decree of the most High, which is come 
upon my lord the king : that they shall drive thee 
from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the 
beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat 
grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew 
of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, 
till thou know that the most High ruleth in the 
kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he 
will. And whereas they commanded to leave the 
stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be 



402 BIBLE STORIES 

sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known 
that the heavens do rule. 

"'Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be accept- 
able unto thee, and break off thy sins by right- 
eousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy 
to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy 
tranquillity.' 

"All this came upon the king Nebuchad- 
nezzar. At the end of twelve months he walked 
in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The 
king spake, and said, *Is not this great Babylon, 
that I have built for the house of the kingdom by 
the might of my power, and for the honour of 
my majesty?' 

"While the word was in the king's mouth, there 
fell a voice from heaven, saying, * O king Nebuchad- 
nezzar, to thee it is spoken. The kingdom is de- 
parted from thee. And they shall drive thee from 
men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of 
the field. They shall make thee to eat grass as 
oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until 
thou know that the most High ruleth in the king- 
dom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.' 

"The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon 
Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, 
and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet 
with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown 
like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds* 
claws. 



BELSHAZZAR'S FEAST 403 

"And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar 
lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine under- 
standing returned unto me, and I blessed the 
most High, and I praised and honoured him that 
liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting 
dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to 
generation. And all the inhabitants of the earth 
are reputed as nothing : and he doeth according to 
his will in the army of heaven, and among the 
inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his 
hand, or say unto him, *What doest thou?' i 

**At the same time my reason returned unto 
me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour 
and brightness returned unto me; and my coun- 
sellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was 
established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty 
was added unto me. 

"Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and 
honour the King of heaven, all whose works are 
truth, and his ways judgment: and those that 
walk in pride he is able to abase.*' 

Daniel, 4 

BELSHAZZAR'S FEAST 

Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a 
thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the 
thousand. Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, 
commanded to bring the golden and silver ves- 



404 BIBLE STORIES 

sels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken 
out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that 
the king, and his princes, his wives, and his con- 
cubines, might drink therein. 

Then they brought the golden vessels that 
were taken out of the temple of the house of God 
which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his 
princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in 
them. They drank wine, and praised the gods 
of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, 
and of stone. 

In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's 
hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon 
the plaster of the wall of the king's palace. And 
the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 

Then the king's countenance was changed, and 
his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of 
his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one 
against another. The king cried aloud to bring in 
the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the sooth- 
sayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise 
men of Babylon, "Whosoever shall read this 
writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, 
shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of 
gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler 
in the kingdom." 

Then came in all the king's wise men: but they 
could not read the writing, nor make known to 
the king the interpretation thereof. Then was 



BELSHAZZAR'S FEAST 405 

king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his coun- 
tenance was changed in him, and his lords were 
astonied. 

Now the queen by reason of the words of the 
king and his lords came into the banquet house: 
and the queen spake and said, "O king, live for 
ever. Let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let 
thy countenance be changed. There is a man in 
thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy 
gods; and in the days of thy father light and 
understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of 
the gods, was found in him; whom the king 
Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy 
father, made master of the magicians, astrolo- 
gers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; forasmuch as 
an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and under- 
standing, interpreting of dreams, and shewing 
of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were 
found in the same Daniel, whom the king named 
Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he 
will shew the interpretation." 

Then was Daniel brought in before the king. 
And the king spake and said unto Daniel, "Art 
thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the 
captivity of Judah, whom the king my father 
brought out of Jewry .^ I have even heard of thee, 
that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light 
and imderstanding and excellent wisdom is found 
in thee. And now the wise men, the astrologers, 



406 BIBLE STORIES 

have been brought in before me, that they should 
read this writing, and make known unto me the 
interpretation thereof: but they could not shew 
the interpretation of the thing. And I have heard 
of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and 
dissolve doubts. Now if thou canst read the writ- 
ing, and make known to me the interpretation 
thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and 
have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be 
the third ruler in the kingdom." 

Then Daniel answered and said before the king, 
"Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards 
to another; yet I will read the writing unto the 
king, and make known to him the interpretation. 

"O thou king, the most high God gave Neb- 
uchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, 
and glory, and honour. And for the majesty that 
he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, 
trembled and feared before him. Whom he would 
he slew, and whom he would he kept alive; and 
whom he would he set up; and whom he would 
he put down. But when his heart was lifted up, 
and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed 
from his kingly throne, and they took his glory 
from him. And he was driven from the sons of 
men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and 
his dwelling was with the wild asses. They fed 
him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet 
with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the 



BELSHAZZAR'S FEAST 407 

most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, 
and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he 
will. 

"And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not 
humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all 
this. But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord 
of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of 
his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, 
thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine 
in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, 
and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which 
see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in 
whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy 
ways, hast thou not glorified. Then was the part 
of the hand sent from him; and this writing was 
written. 

"And this is the writing that was written, 
MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This 
is the intepretation of the thing: MENE; God 
hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. 
TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, 
and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom 
is divided, and given to the Medes and Per^ 
sians." 

Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed 
Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold 
about his neck, and made a proclamation con- 
cerning him, that he should be the third ruler 
in the kingdom. 



408 BIBLE STORIES 

In that night was Belshazzar the king of the 
Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took 
the kingdom, being about threescore and two 
years old. 

Daniel, 5 



DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN 

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an 
hundred and twenty princes, which should be 
over the whole kingdom; and over these three 
presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the 
princes might give accounts unto them, and the 
king should have no damage. Then this Daniel 
was preferred above the presidents and princes, 
because an excellent spirit was in him; and the 
king thought to set him over the whole realm. 

Then the presidents and princes sought to find 
occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; 
but they could find none occasion nor fault; for- 
asmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any 
error or fault found in him. Then said these 
men, *'We shall not find any occasion against 
this Daniel, except we find it against him con- 
cerning the law of his God." 

Then these presidents and princes assembled 
together to the king, and said thus unto him, 
"King Darius, live for ever. All the presidents of 
the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the 



DANIEL IN THE LIONS* DEN 409 

counsellors, and the captains, have consulted to- 
gether to establish a royal statute, and to make a 
firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition 
of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, 
O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 
Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the 
writing, that it be not changed, according to the 
law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth 
not." Wherefore king Darius signed the writing 
and the decree. 

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was 
signed, he went into his house; and his windows 
being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he 
kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and 
prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did 
aforetime. 

Then these men assembled, and found Daniel 
praying and making supplication before his God. 

Then they came near, and spake before the 
king concerning the king's decree; "Hast thou 
not signed a decree, that every man that shall 
ask a petition of any God or man within thirty 
days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the 
den of lions.'^ " The king answered and said, "The 
thing is true, according to the law of the Medes 
and Persians, which altereth not." 

Then answered they and said before the king, 
"That Daniel, which is of the children of the cap- 
tivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor 



410 BIBLE STORIES 

the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his 
petition three times a day." 

Then the king, when he heard these words, was 
sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on 
Daniel to deliver him : and he laboured till the go- 
ing down of the sun to deliver him. Then these 
men assembled unto the king, and said unto the 
king, "Know, O king, that the law of the Medes 
and Persians is, *That no decree nor statute 
which the king establisheth may be changed.'" 

Then the king commanded, and they brought 
Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now 
the king spake and said unto Daniel, "Thy God 
whom thou servest continually, he will deliver 
thee." And a stone was brought, and laid upon 
the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with 
his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; 
that the purpose might not be changed concern- 
ing Daniel. 

Then the king went to his palace, and passed the 
night fasting: neither were instruments of music 
brought before him : and his sleep went from him. 

Then the king arose very early in the morning, 
and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when 
he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable 
voice unto Daniel : and the king spake and said to 
Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, is 
thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to 
deliver thee from the lions .f^" 



DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN 411 

Then said Daniel unto the king, "O king, live 
for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath 
shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt 
me : forasmuch as before him innocency was found 
in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done 
no hurt." 

Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and 
commanded that they should take Daniel up out 
of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, 
and no manner of hurt was found upon him, be- 
cause he believed in his God. 

And the king commanded, and they brought 
those men which had accused Daniel, and they 
cast them into the den of lions, them, their chil- 
dren, and their wives; and the lions had the 
mastery of them, and brake all their bones in 
pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the 
den. 

Then king Darius wrote unto all people, na- 
tions, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; 
"Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, 
that in every dominion of my kingdom men trem- 
ble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is 
the living God, and stedf ast for ever, and his king- 
dom that which shall not be destroyed, and his 
dominion shall be even unto the end. He de- 
livereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and 
wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath deliv- 
ered Daniel from the power of the lions." 



412 BIBLE STORIES 

So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, 
and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. 

Daniel, 6 

Read of DanieVs wonderful visions, *'The Great Beasts,** 
Daniel, chap. 7; *' The Ram and the Goat** Daniel, chap. 8; 
*' The Messiah the Prince,** Daniel, chap. 9; *' The Terrible 
Wars in the Last Times,** chaps. 10 and 11; " The Last Days,* 
chap. 12 



THE RETURN FROM THE CAPTIVITY 

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, 
that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jere- 
miah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the 
spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a pro- 
clamation throughout all his kingdom, and put 
it also in writing, saying: — 

"Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, *The Lord 
God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of 
the earth; and he hath charged me to build him 
an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who 
is there among you of all his people? his God be 
with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which 
is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God 
of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. 
And whosoever remaineth in any place where he 
sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with 
silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with 
beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of 
God that is in Jerusalem.' " 



THE RETURN FROM CAPTIVITY 413 

Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah 
and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, 
with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go 
up to build the house of the Lord which is in 
Jerusalem. And all they that were about them 
strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, 
with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with 
precious things, beside all that was willingly 
offered. 

Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels 
of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar 
had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put 
them in the house of his gods; even those did 
Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of 
Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them 
unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. And this 
is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, 
a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty 
knives, thirty basins of gold, silver basins of a 
second sort four hundred and ten, and other ves- 
sels a thousand. All the vessels of gold and of 
silver were five thousand and four hundred. All 
these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the 
captivity that were brought up from Babylon 
unto Jerusalem. 

The whole congregation together was forty and 
two thousand three hundred and threescore, be- 
side their servants and their maids, of whom there 
were seven thousand three hundred thirty and 



414 BIBLE STORIES 

seven: and there were among them two hundred 
singing men and singing women. Their horses 
were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, 
two hundred forty and five; their camels, four 
hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand 
seven hundred and twenty. 

And some of the chief of the fathers, when they 
came to the house of the Lord which is at Jeru- 
salem, offered freely for the house of God to set 
it up in his place. 

Ezra, 1, 2 

" Bow the Prophet Isaiah Foretold that Cyrus Would Restore 
Israel and Rebuild Jerusalem,'' see Isaiah, chap, l^k, verses '21^- 
28; and chap. J^5, verses 1-13. Read also Nehemiah, about 
**The King's Cup-Bearer" 



teotsotnctote B not i*dtm 



But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, Jacob, and 
he that formed thee, Israel, *'Fear not: for I have redeemed 
thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 

" When thou passest through the waters, I will be vrith thee; 
and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou 
walkest through the fire, thou shall not be burned; neither shall 
the flame kindle upon thee. 

" For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy 
Saviour'' 

Isaiah, 43 




HOW QUEEN VASHTI WOULD NOT 

ow it came to pass in the days of Ahas- 
uerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, 
*from India even unto Ethiopia, over an 
hundred and seven and twenty provinces :) 
that in those days, when the king Ahasuerus 
sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was 
in Shushan the palace, in the third year of his 
reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and 
his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the 
nobles and princes of the provinces, being before 
him. When he shewed the riches of his glorious 
kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty 
many days, even an hundred and fourscore days. 
And when these days were expired, the king 
made a feast unto all the people that were pres- 
ent in Shushan the palace, both unto great and 
small, seven days, in the court of the garden of 
the king's palace. Where were white, green, and 
blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen 
and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble. 
The couches were of gold and silver, upon a pave- 
ment of porphyry, and white marble, and ala- 
baster, and stone of blue colour. And they gave 
them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being 
diverse one from another,) and royal wine in 



418 BIBLE STORIES 

abundance, according to the state of the king. 
And the drinking was according to the law; none 
did compel: for so the king had appointed to all 
the officers of his house, that they should do ac- 
cording to every man's pleasure. 

Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the 
women in the royal house which belonged to king 
Ahasuerus. 

On the seventh day, when the heart of the 
king was merry with wine, he commanded the 
seven chamberlains that served in the presence 
of Ahasuerus the king, to bring Vashti the queen 
before the king with the crown royal, to shew 
the people and the princes her beauty : for she was 
fair to look on. But the queen Vashti refused to 
come at the king's commandment by his cham- 
berlains : therefore was the king very wroth, and 
his anger burned in him. 

Then the king said to the wise men, which knew 
the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all 
that knew law and judgment: and the next unto 
him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, 
Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes 
of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, 
and which sat the first in the kingdom;) "What 
shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to 
law, because she hath not performed the com- 
mandment of the king Ahasuerus by the cham- 
berlains?" 



HOW QUEEN VASHTI WOULD NOT 419 

And Memucan answered before the king and 
the princes, "Vashti the queen hath not done 
wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, 
and to all the people that are in all the provinces 
of the king Ahasuerus. For this deed of the queen 
shall come abroad unto all women, so that they 
shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when 
it shall be reported, *The king Ahasuerus com- 
manded Vashti the queen to be brought in be- 
fore him, but she came not.' Likewise shall the 
ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all 
the king's princes, which have heard of the deed 
of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much 
contempt and wrath. 

"If it please the king, let there go a royal com- 
mandment from him, and let it be written among 
the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it 
be not altered, that Vashti come no more before 
king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal 
estate unto another that is better than she. And 
when the king's decree which he shall make shall 
be published throughout all his empire, (for it is 
great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands 
honour, both to great and small." 

And the saying pleased the king and the 
princes; and the king did according to the word 
of Memucan. For he sent letters into all the 
king's provinces, into every province according 
to the writing thereof, and to every people after 



420 BIBLE STORIES 

their language, that every man should bear rule 
in his own house, and that it should be published 
according to the language of every people. 

ESTHEK, 1 



ESTHER THE BEAUTIFUL 

After these things, when the wrath of king 
Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, 
and what she had done, and what was decreed 
against her. Then said the king's servants that 
ministered unto him, "Let there be fair young 
virgins sought for the king. And let the king ap- 
point officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, 
that they may gather together all the fair young 
virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of 
the women, unto the custody of Hegai the king's 
chamberlain, keeper of the women. And let the 
maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead 
of Vashti." And the thing pleased the king; and 
he did so. 

Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain 
Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, 
the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; 
who had been carried away from Jerusalem with 
the captivity, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of 
Babylon had carried away. And he brought up 
Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: 
for she had neither father nor mother. And the 



ESTHER THE BEAUTIFUL 421 

maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, 
when her father and mother were dead, took for 
his own daughter. 

So it came to pass, when the king's command- 
ment and his decree was heard, and when many 
maidens were gathered together unto Shushan 
the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther 
was brought also unto the king's house, to the 
custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. And the 
maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness 
of him; and he speedily gave her such things as 
belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were 
meet to be given her, out of the king's house. And 
he preferred her and her maids unto the best 
place of the house of the women. 

Esther had not shewed her people nor her kin- 
dred : for Mordecai had charged her that she should 
not shew it. And Mordecai walked every day be- 
fore the court of the women's house, to know how 
Esther did, and what should become of her. 

So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into 
his house royal in the tenth month, which is the 
month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 
And the king loved Esther above all the women, 
and she obtained grace and favour in his sight 
more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal 
crown upon her head, and made her queen in- 
stead of Vashti. 

Then the king made a great feast unto all his 



422 BIBLE STORIES 

princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and 
he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, 
according to the state of the king. And when the 
virgins were gathered together the second time, 
then Mordecai sat in the king's gate. Esther had 
not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as 
Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the 
commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was 
brought up with him. 

In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's 
gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and 
Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, 
and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 
And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it 
unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the 
king thereof in Mordecai's name. And when in- 
quisition was made of the matter, it was found 
out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: 
and it was written in the book of the chronicles 
before the king. 

Esther, 2 

THE PLOT OF THAT WICKED HAMAN 

After these things did king Ahasuerus pro- 
mote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Aga- 
gite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all 
the princes that were with him. And all the king's 
servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and 



PLOT OF THAT WICKED HAMAN 423 

reverenced Haman: for the king had so com- 
manded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed 
not, nor did him reverence. 

Then the king's servants, which were in the 
king's gate, said unto Mordecai, "Why trans- 
gressest thou the king's commandment .f^" Now 
it came to pass, when they spake daily unto 
him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they 
told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters 
would stand: for he had told them that he was 
a Jew. 

And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed 
not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full 
of wrath. And he thought scorn to lay hands on 
Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the 
people of Mordecai. Wherefore Haman sought 
to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the 
whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of 
Mordecai. 

And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, "There 
is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed 
among the people in all the provinces of thy king- 
dom; and their laws are diverse from all people; 
neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is 
not for the king's profit to suffer them. If it please 
the king, let it be written that they may be de- 
stroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of sil- 
ver to the hands of those that have the charge of the 
business, to bring it into the king's treasuries." 



424 BIBLE STORIES 

And the king took his ring from his hand, and 
gave it unto Haman the son of Hammed atha the 
Agagite, the Jews' enemy. And the king said 
unto Haman, "The silver is given to thee, the 
people also, to do with them as it seemeth good 
to thee." 

Then were the king's scribes called on the thir- 
teenth day of the first month, and there was 
written according to all that Haman had com- 
manded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the 
governors that were over every province, and to 
the rulers of every people of every province ac- 
cording to the writing thereof, and to every people 
after their language; in the name of king Ahasu- 
erus was it written, and sealed with the king's 
ring. 

And the letters were sent by posts into all the 
king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause 
to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little 
children and women, in one day, even upon the 
thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is 
the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for 
a prey. 

The copy of the writing for a commandment to 
be given in every province was published unto all 
people, that they should be ready against that 
day. 

The posts went out, being hastened by the 
king's commandment, and the decree was given 



*'AND IF I PERISH, I PERISH!" 425 

in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman 
sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was 
perplexed. 

Esther, 3 

Read *' Whij Mordecai Bowed not before a Descendant of 
Agag," Exodus, chap 17; 1 Samuel, chap. 15 



"AND IF I PERISH, I PERISH!" 

When Mordecai perceived all that was done, 
Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth 
with ashes, and went out into the midst of the 
city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; and 
came even before the king's gate : for none might 
enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. 

And in every province, whithersoever the 
king's commandment and his decree came, there 
was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, 
and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sack- 
cloth and ashes. 

So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came 
and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly 
grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, 
and to take away his sackcloth from him : but he 
received it not. 

Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's 
chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend 
upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mor- 
decai, to know what it was, and why it was. 



426 BIBLE STORIES 

So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the 
street of the city, which was before the king's 
gate. And Mordecai told him of all that had hap- 
pened unto him, and of the sum of the money that 
Haman had promised to pay to the king's treas- 
uries for the Jews, to destroy them. Also he gave 
him the copy of the writing of the decree that was 
given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto 
Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge 
her that she should go in unto the king, to make 
supplication unto him, and to make request be- 
fore him for her people. 

And Hatach came and told Esther the words 
of Mordecai. 

Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him 
commandment unto Mordecai, "All the king's 
servants, and the people of the king's provinces, 
do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, 
shall come unto the king into the inner court, who 
is not called there is one law of his to put him to 
death, except such to whom the king shall hold 
out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I 
have not been called to come in unto the king 
these thirty days." 

And they told to Mordecai Esther's words. 

Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, 
"Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape 
in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For 
if thou altogether boldest thy peace at this time, 



THE GOLDEN SCEPTRE 427 

then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise 
to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy 
father's house shall be destroyed. And who know- 
eth whether thou art come to the kingdom for 
such a time as this? " 

Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this 
answer, "Go, gather together all the Jews that 
are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and 
neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. 
I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so 
will I go in unto the king, which is not according 
to the law. And if I perish, I perish." 

So Mordecai went his way, and did according 
to all that Esther had commanded him. 

Esther, 4 

THE GOLDEN SCEPTRE 

Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther 
put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner 
court of the king's house, over against the king's 
house. And the king sat upon his royal throne in 
the royal house, over against the gate of the house. 

And it was so, when the king saw Esther the 
queen standing in the court, that she obtained 
favour in his sight. And the king held out to 
Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. 
So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the 
sceptre. 



428 BIBLE STORIES 

Then said the king unto her, "What wilt thou, 
queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be 
even given thee to the half of the kingdom." 

And Esther answered, *'If it seem good unto 
the king, let the king and Haman come this day 
unto the banquet that I have prepared for him." 

Then the king said, "Cause Haman to make 
haste, that he may do as Esther hath said." So 
the king and Haman came to the banquet that 
Esther had prepared. 

And the king said unto Esther at the banquet 
of wine, "What is thy petition? and it shall be 
granted thee: and what is thy request? even to 
the half of the kingdom it shall be performed." 

Then answered Esther, and said, "My petition 
and my request is; if I have found favour in the 
sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant 
my petition, and to perform my request, let the 
king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall 
prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the 
king hath said." 

Esther, 5 



THE GALLOWS FIFTY CUBITS HIGH 

Then went Haman forth that day joyful and 
with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Morde- 
cai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor 
moved for him, he was full of indignation against 



MORDECAI AND HAMAN 429 

Mordecai. Nevertheless Haman refrained him- 
self: and when he came home, he sent and called 
for his friends, and Zeresh his wife. 

And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, 
and the multitude of his children, and all the 
things wherein the king had promoted him, and 
how he had advanced him above the princes and 
servants of the king. Haman said moreover, 
"Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in 
with the king unto the banquet that she had pre- 
pared but myself ; and to morrow am I invited unto 
her also with the king. Yet all this availeth me 
nothing, so long as I s.ee Mordecai the Jew sitting 
at the king's gate." 

Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends 
unto him, "Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits 
high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king 
that Mordecai may be hanged thereon. Then go 
thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet." 

And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused 
the gallows to be made. 

Esther, 5 

THE MAN WHOM THE KING 
DELIGHTED TO HONOUR 

On that night could not the king sleep, and he 
commanded to bring the book of records of the 
chronicles; and they were read before the king. 



430 BIBLE STORIES 

And it was found written, that Mordecai had told 
of Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king's cham- 
berlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to 
lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 

And the king said, "What honour and dignity 
hath been done to Mordecai for this? " Then said 
the king's servants that ministered unto him, 
"There is nothing done for him." 

And the king said, "Who is in the court? " Now 
Haman was come into the outward court of the 
king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mor- 
decai on the gallows that he had prepared for 
him. And the king's servants said unto him, 
"Behold, Haman standeth in the court." And 
the king said, "Let him come in." 

So Haman came in. And the king said unto 
him, " What shall be done unto the man whom 
the king delighteth to honour?" Now Haman 
thought in his heart, "To whom would the king 
delight to do honour more than to myself?" 

And Haman answered the king, "For the man 
whom the king delighteth to honour, let the 
royal apparel be brought which the king useth to 
wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and 
the crown royal which is set upon his head. And 
let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand 
of one of the king's most noble princes, that they 
may array the man withal whom the king de- 
lighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback 



MORDECAI AND HAMAN 431 

througli the street of the city, and proclaim before 
him, *Thus shall it be done to the man whom the 
king delighteth to honour.' " 

Then the king said to Haman, "Make haste, 
and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast 
said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that 
sitteth at the king's gate. Let nothing fail of all 
that thou hast spoken." 

Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, 
and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horse- 
back through the street of the city, and proclaimed 
before him, "Thus shall it be done unto the man 
whom the king delighteth to honour." 

And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. 
But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and 
having his head covered. 

And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his 
friends every thing that had befallen him. Then 
said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, 
"If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before 
whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not 
prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before 
him." 

And while they were yet talking with him, came 
the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring 
Haman unto the banquet that Esther had pre- 
pared. 

Esther, 6 



432 BIBLE STORIES 

QUEEN ESTHER'S FEAST 

So the king and Haman came to banquet with 
Esther the queen. And the king said again unto 
Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, 
" What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be 
granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall 
be performed, even to the half of the kingdom." 

Then Esther the queen answered and said, "If 
I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it 
please the king, let my life be given me at my 
petition, and my people at my request. For we 
are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be 
slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for 
bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, 
for our affliction is not to be compared with the 
king's damage." 

Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said 
unto Esther the queen, "Who is he, and where is 
he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?" 

And Esther said, "The adversary and enemy 
is this wicked Haman." 

Then Haman was afraid before the king and the 
queen. 

And the king arising from the banquet of wine 
in his wrath went into the palace garden. And 
Haman stood up to make request for his life to 
Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil 
determined against him by the king. 




ESTHER ACCUSING HAMAN 



QUEEN ESTHER'S FEAST 433 

Then the king returned out of the palace gar- 
den into the place of the banquet of wine; and 
Haman was fallen upon the couch whereon Esther 
was. Then said the king, "Will he force the queen 
also before me in the house? " As the word went 
out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's 
face. 

And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said 
before the king, "Behold also, the gallows fifty 
cubits high, which Haman had made for Morde- 
cai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth 
in the house of Haman." 

Then the king said, "Hang him thereon." 

So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he 
had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's 
\\Tath pacified. 

Esther, 7 

Another story of Queen Esther is *' The King's Ring, and 
How the Jews Were Saved y' Esther y chaps. 8,9, 10 



]pmr (D ^r Eattoas 



// it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may 
Israel say; 

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men 
rose up against us: 

Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was 
kindled against us: 

Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over 
our soul: 

Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. 

Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given u£ as a prey to their 
teeth. 

Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: 
the snare is broken, and loe are escaped. 

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and 
earth. 

Psalm 124 



HEAR O YE NATIONS! 

EAR the word of the Lord, O ye nations, 
and declare it in the isles afar off, and 
'say, he that scattered Israel will gather 
him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his 
flock. For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and 
ransomed him from the hand of him that was 
stronger than he. 

Jeremiah, 31 

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the 
Lord shall set his hand again the second time 
to recover the remnant of his people, which shall 
be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from 
Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and 
from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the 
islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign 
for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of 
Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah 
from the four corners of the earth. 

Isaiah, 11 

Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift 
up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my 
standard to the people: and they shall bring thy 
sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be 



438 BIBLE STORIES 

carried upon their shoulders. And kings shall be 
thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing 
mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their 
face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of 
thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the 
Lord : for they shall not be ashamed that wait for 
me. 

Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the 
lawful captive delivered .^^ But thus saith the 
Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be 
taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be 
delivered: for I will contend with him that con- 
tendeth with thee, and I will save thy children. 
And I will feed them that oppress thee with their 
own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their 
own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall 
know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy 
Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. 

Isaiah, 49 

Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and 
drunken, but not with wine. Thus saith thy 
Lord the Lord, and thy God that pleadeth the 
cause of his people. Behold, I have taken out of 
thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs 
of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink 
it again. But I will put it into the hand of them 
that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, 
Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast 



HEAR O YE NATIONS 439 

laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to 
them that went over. j^^^^^ ^^ 



For the nation and kingdom that will not 
serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall 
be utterly wasted. The glory of Lebanon shall 
come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the 
box together, to beautify the place of my sanctu- 
ary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. 
The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come 
bending unto thee; and all they that despised 
thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of 
thy feet; and they shall call thee. The city of the 
Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 

Isaiah, 60 

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I 
will perform that good thing which I have prom- 
ised unto the house of Israel and to the house of 
Judah. In those days, and at that time, will I cause 
the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto 
David ; and he shall execute judgment and right- 
eousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be 
saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely : and this is 
the name wherewith she shall be called. The Lord 
our Righteousness. For thus saith the Lord; David 
shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of 

the house of Israel. t «« 

Jeremiah, 33 



440 BIBLE STORIES 

And there shall come forth a rod out of the 
stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his 
roots. And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon 
him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the 
spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowl- 
edge and of the fear of the Lord ; and shall make 
him of quick understanding in the fear of the 
Lord. 

And he shall not judge after the sight of his 
eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears. 
But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, 
and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth : 
and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his 
mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay 
the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle 
of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his 
reins. 

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and 
the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the 
calf and the young lion and the fatling together; 
and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and 
the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie 
down together: and the lion shall eat straw like 
the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the 
hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his 
hand on the cockatrice' den. 

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy 
mountain : for the earth shall be full of the knowl- 
edge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. 



HEAR O YE NATIONS 441 

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, 
which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to 
it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be 
glorious. 

Isaiah, 11 

And I will pour upon the house of David, and 
upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of 
grace and of supplications: and they shall look 
upon him whom they have pierced, and they shall 
mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, 
and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is 
in bitterness for his firstborn. In that day shall 
there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the 
mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of 
Megiddon. And the land shall mourn, every 
family apart. 

Zechariah, 12 

In that day there shall be a fountain opened to 
the house of David and to the inhabitants of 
Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. 

And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the 
Lord of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the 
idols out of the land, and they shall no more be 
remembered: and also I will cause the prophets 
and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. 

Zechariah, 13 



442 BIBLE STORIES 

And it shall come to pass in the last days, that 
the mountain of the Lord's house shall be estab- 
lished in the top of the mountains, and shall be 
exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow 
unto it. And many people shall go and say. Come 
ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, 
to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach 
us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths : for 
out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word 
of the Lord from Jerusalem. 

And he shall judge among the nations, and shall 
rebuke many people: and they shall beat their 
swords into plowshares, and their spears into 
pruninghooks. Nation shall not lift up sword 
against nation, neither shall they learn war any 
more. 

O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in 
the light of the Lord. 

Isaiah, 2 

praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all 
ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward 
us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. 
Praise ye the Lord, 

Psalm 117 



Being selections from the many Prophecies in 
The Old Testament 

Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and 
the sea, and all that in them is; 

Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, *' Why did 
the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things ? 

" The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered 
together against the Lord, and against his Christ {Messiah).''' 

For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast 
anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and 
the people of Israel, were gathered together, 
' For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined 
before to be done. 

Acts, 4 




THE PROMISE 

And God said unto the Serpent 

ECAUSE thou hast done this, thou art 
cursed above all cattle, and above every 
beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt 
thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of 
thy life. And I will put enmity between thee 
and the woman, and between thy seed and her 
seed ; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise 
his heel. 

Genesis, 3 

And God said unto Abraham 

In blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying 
I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, 
and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and 
thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies. And 
in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be 
blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. 

Genesis, 22 

And Jacob blessed Judah 

Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall 
praise : thy hand shall be in the neck of thine ene- 
mies; thy father's children shall bow down before 



446 BIBLE STORIES 

thee. Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my 
son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he 
couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall 
rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from 
Judah, nor a lawgiver until Shiloh come; and 
unto him shall the gathering of the people be. 

Genesis, 49 

And Balaam prophesied 

He hath said, which heard the words of God, 
and knew the knowledge of the most High, which 
saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a 
trance, but having his eyes open : I shall see him, 
but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: 
there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre 
shall rise out of Israel. 

Numbers, 24 

And Moses said 

The Lord said unto me. They have well spoken 
that which they have spoken. I will raise them up 
a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto 
thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he 
shall speak unto them all that I shall command 
him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever 
will not hearken unto my words which he shall 
speak in my name, I will require it of him. 

Deuteronomy, 18 



THE MESSENGER 447 

And God said unto David 

And thine house and thy kingdom shall be es- 
tablished for ever before thee: thy throne shall 
be established for ever. 

2 Samuel, 7 

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I 
will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a 
King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute 
judgment and justice in the earth. In his days 
Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely : 
and this is his name whereby he shall be called, 
THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

Jeremiah, 23 

Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; 
and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall 
build the temple of the Lord. Even he shall build 
the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the 
glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and 
he shall be a priest upon his throne. 

Zechariah, 6 

THE MESSENGER 

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your 
God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry 
unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that 



448 BIBLE STORIES 

her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received 
of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. 

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, 
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight 
in the desert a highway for our God. Every val- 
ley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill 
shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made 
straight, and the rough places plain. And the 
glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh 
shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord 
hath spoken it. 

Isaiah, 40 

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall 
prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom 
ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even 
the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight 
in : behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. 

But who may abide the day of his coming.^^ and 
who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like 
a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap. And he shall 
sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall 
purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold 
and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an 
offering in righteousness. 

Malachi, 3 

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet be- 
fore the coming of the great and dreadful day of 



HIS BIRTH 449 

the Lord. And he shall turn the heart of the 
fathers to the children, and the heart of the chil- 
dren to their fathers, lest I come and smite the 
earth with a curse. 

Malachi, 4 



HIS BIRTH 

Who hath ascended up into heaven, or de- 
scended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? 
who hath bound the waters in a garment? who 
hath established all the ends of the earth? what is 
his name, and what is his son's name, if thou 
canst tell? 

Proverbs, 30 

But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou 
be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out 
of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be 
ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been 
from of old, from everlasting. 

MiCAH, 5 

^ Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign ; 
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, 
and shall call his name Immanuel (that is God 
with us). 

Isaiah, 7 



450 BIBLE STORIES 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is 
given: and the government shall be upon his 
shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonder- 
ful, Counsellor, The mighty God, Father of Eter- 
nity, The Prince of Peace. 

Of the increase of his government and peace 
there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, 
and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to estab- 
lish it with judgment and with justice from hence- 
forth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of 
hosts will perform this. 

Isaiah, 9 

HIS MESSAGE 

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine 
elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my 
spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to 
the Gentiles. 

He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice 
to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he 
not break, and the smoking flax shall he not 
quench : he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 
He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have 
set judgment in the earth : and the isles shall wait 
for his law. 

Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the 
heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread 
forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; 



HIS MESSAGE 451 

he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and 
spirit to them that walk therein : I the Lord have 
called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine 
hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a cove- 
nant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to 
open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners 
from the prison, and them that sit in darkness 
out of the prison house. 

Isaiah, 42 

• 

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the 
waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, 
and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without 
money and without price. 

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is 
not bread? and your labour for that which satis- 
fieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye 
that which is good, and let your soul delight itself 
in fatness. 

Incline your ear, and come unto me : hear, and 
your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting 
covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David, 

Behold, I have given him for a witness to the 
people, a leader and commander to the people. 

Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou know- 
est not, and nations that knew not thee shall run 
unto thee because of the Lord thy God, and for 
the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. 

Isaiah, 55 



452 BIBLE STORIES 

Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he 
shall be exalted and lifted up and shall be very 
high. 

As many were astonied at thee; (his visage was 
so marred more than any man, and his form more 
than the sons of men :) so shall he sprinkle many 
nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: 
for that which had not been told them shall they 
see; and that which they had not heard shall they 
consider. 

Isaiah, 52 

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O 
daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh 
unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, 
and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal 
of an ass. 

Zechariah, 9 

When I came, was there no man? when I called, 
was there none to answer .^^ Is my hand shortened 
at all, that it cannot redeem.^ or have I no power 
to deliver.^ behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, 
I make the rivers a wilderness : their fish stinketh, 
because there is no water, and dieth for thirst. I 
clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make 
sackcloth their covering. 

The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the 
learned, that I should know how to speak a word 



HIS MESSAGE 453 

in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth 
morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to 
hear as the learned. 

The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I 
was not rebelUous, neither turned away back. I 
gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to 
them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face 
from shame and spitting. 

For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall 
I not be confounded: therefore have I set my 
face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be 
ashamed. He is near that justifieth me; who will 
contend with me? let us stand together: who is 
mine adversary.? let him come near to me. Be- 
hold, the Lord God will help me; who is he that 
shall condemn me.^^ lo, they all shall wax old as a 
garment; the moth shall eat them up. 

Isaiah, 50 

And now, saith the Lord that formed me to be 
his servant, to bring Jacob again to him. Though 
Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in 
the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my 
strength. 

And he said, It is a light thing that thou should- 
est be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, 
and to restore the preserved of Israel : I will also 
give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou 
mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. 



454 BIBLE STORIES 

Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, 
and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, 
to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant 
of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also 
shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful, 
and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose 
thee. 

Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have 
I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I 
helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give 
thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the 
earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages. 
That thou may est say to the prisoners. Go forth; 
to them that are in darkness. Shew yourselves. 
They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures 
shall be in all high places. They shall not hunger 
nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite 
them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead 
them, even by the springs of water shall he guide 
them. And I will make all my mountains a way, 
and my highways shall be exalted. Behold, these 
shall come from far : and, lo, these from the north 
and from the west; and these from the land of 
Sinim. 

Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and 
break forth into singing, O mountains: for the 
Lord hath comforted his people, and will have 
mercy upon his afflicted. 

Isaiah, 49 



HIS SACRIFICE 455 

HIS SACRIFICE 

Why do the heathen rage, and the people im- 
agine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set 
themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, 
against the Lord, and against his anointed (Mes- 
siah), saying, Let us break their bands asunder, 
and cast away their cords from us. 

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the 
Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he 
speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in 
his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon 
my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree : the 
Lord hath said unto me. Thou art my Son; this 
day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall 
give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and 
the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou 
shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings : be instructed, 
ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, 
and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he 
be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his 
wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they 
that put their trust in him. p ^ 

Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I 
trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted 
up his heel against me. p ;- 



456 BIBLE STORIES 

Set thou a wicked man over him : and let Satan 
stand at his right hand. When he shall be judged, 
let him be condemned: and let his prayer become 
sin. Let his days be few; and let another take his 
office. 

Because that he remembered not to shew 
mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, 
that he might even slay the broken in heart. 

Psalm 109 

And I said unto them. If ye think good, give 
me my price; and if not, forbear. So they 
weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And 
the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: 
a goodly price that I was priced at of them. And 
I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to 
the potter in the house of the Lord. 

Zechariah, 11 

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 
why art thou so far from helping me, and from 
the words of my roaring.'^ 

O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hear- 
est not; and in the night season, and am not silent. 

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the 
praises of Israel. 

Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and 
thou didst deliver them. 



HIS SACRIFICE 457 

They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they 
trusted in thee, and were not confounded. 

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of 
men, and despised of the people. 

All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they 
shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying. 

He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver 
him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in 
him. 

Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for 
there is none to help. 

Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of 
Bashan have beset me round. 

They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a 
ravening and a roaring lion. 

I am poured out like water, and all my bones 
are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted 
in the midst of my bowels. 

My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and 
my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast 
brought me into the dust of death. 

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of 
the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my 
hands and my feet. 

I may tell all my bones: they look and stare 
upon me. 

They part my garments among them, and cast 
lots upon my vesture. 



458 BIBLE STORIES 

But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my 
strength, haste thee to help me. 

Deliver my soul from the sword; my dear life 
from the power of the dog. 

Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast 
answered me from the horns of the wild oxen. 

I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in 
the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. 

Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the 
seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the 
seed of Israel. 

For he hath not despised nor abhorred the 
affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his 
face from him; but when he cried unto him, he 
heard. 

Psalm 22 

Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is 
good : turn unto me according to the multitude of 
thy tender mercies. 

And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I 
am in trouble: hear me speedily. 

Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: de- 
liver me because of mine enemies. 

Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, 
and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all be- 
fore thee. 

Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full 
of heaviness : and I looked for some to take pity, 



HIS SACRIFICE 459 

but there was none; and for comforters, but I 
found none. 

They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my 
thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. 

PSALI^I 69 



And one shall say unto him, What are these 
wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer. 
Those with which I was wounded in the house of 
my friends. 

Zechariah, 13 

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is 
the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow 
up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out 
of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; 
and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that 
we should desire him. He is despised and rejected 
of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with 
grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he 
was despised, and we esteemed him not. 

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our 
sorrows : yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten 
of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our 
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: 
the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and 
with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep 
have gone astray; we have turned every one to 



460 BIBLE STORIES 

his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the 
iniquity of us ail. 

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he 
opened not his mouth: as a lamb that is led to 
the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers 
is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. By op- 
pression and judgment he was taken away, and 
as for his generation, who among them considered 
that he was cut off out of the land of the liv- 
ing? For the transgression of my people was he 
stricken. And they made his grave with the 
wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although 
he had done no violence, neither was any deceit 
in his mouth. 

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath 
put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul 
an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall 
prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord 
shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the 
travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his 
knowledge shall my righteous servant justify 
many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore 
will I divide him a portion with the great, and he 
shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he 
hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was 
numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the 
sin of many, and made intercession for the trans- 
gressors. 

Isaiah, 53 



THE RESURRECTION 461 

THE RESURRECTION 

I HAVE set the Lord always before me: because 
he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory re- 
joiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou 
wilt not abandon my soul to the grave; neither wilt 
thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou 
wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is 
fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleas- 
ures for evermore. 

Psalm 16 

Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead 
body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that 
dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, 
and the earth shall cast out the dead. 

Come, my people, enter thou into thy cham- 
bers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself 
as it were for a little moment, until the indigna- 
tion be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh 
out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the 
earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall dis- 
close her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. 

Isaiah, 26 

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the 
earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and 
some to shame and everlasting contempt. And 



462 BIBLE STORIES 

they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of 
the firmament; and they that turn many to right- 
eousness as the stars for ever and ever. 

Daniel, 12 

I will ransom them from the power of the grave; 
I will redeem them from death: O death, where 
are thy plagues? O grave, where is thy destruc- 
tion? repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. 

HOSEA, 13 

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that 
he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. 
And though after my skin worms destroy this 
body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I 
shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, 
and not another; though my reins be consumed 
within me. 

Job, 19 

God will redeem my soul from the power of the 
grave: for he shall receive me. Selah. 

Psalm 49 



HIS ASCENSION 

The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my 
right hand, until I make thine enemies thy foot- 
stool. 



HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM 463 

The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out 
of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 

Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy 
power, in the beauties of holiness from the bosom 
of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. 

The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou 
art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. 

The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through 
kings in the day of his wrath. 

He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill 
the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound 
the heads over many countries. 

He shall drink of the brook in the way: there- 
fore shall he lift up the head. 

Psalm 110 

The stone which the builders refused is become 
the head stone of the corner. 

This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our 
eyes. 

Psalm 118 

HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM 

I BEHELD till the thrones were cast down, and 
the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was 
white as snow, and the hair of his head like the 
pure wool : his throne was like the fiery flame, and 
his wheels as burning fire. 



464 BIBLE STORIES 

A fiery stream issued and came forth from be- 
fore him: thousand thousands ministered unto 
him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood 
before him : the judgment was set, and the books 
were opened. 

I beheld then because of the voice of the great 
words which the horn spake: I beheld even till 
the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and 
given to the burning flame. 

As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had 
their dominion taken away: yet their lives were 
prolonged for a season and time. 

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like 
the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, 
and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought 
him near before him. 

And there was given him dominion, and glory, 
and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and lan- 
guages, should serve him. 

His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which 
shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which 
shall not be destroyed. 

Daniel, 7 

Yea, all kings shall fall down before him : all na- 
tions shall serve him. 

For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; 
the poor also, and him that hath no helper. 



HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM 465 

He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall 
save the souls of the needy. 

He shall redeem their soul from deceit and vio- 
lence: and precious shall their blood be in his 
sight. 

And he shall live, and to him shall be given of 
the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for 
him continually; and daily shall he be praised. 

There shall be an handful of corn in the earth 
upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof 
shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city 
shall flourish like grass of the earth. 

His name shall endure for ever: his name shall 
be continued as long as the sun : and men shall be 
blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. 

Blessed he the Lord God, the God of Israel, who 
only doeth wondrous things. 

And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let 
the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and 
Amen, 

Psalm 72 



THE END 



APPENDICES 



APPENDIX A 

THE PLACE OF THE BIBLE IN THE 
EDUCATION OF CHILDREN 

JOHN RUSKIN 

I HAVE next with deeper gratitude to chronicle what I 
owed to my mother for the resolutely consistent lessons which 
so exercised me in the Scriptures as to make every word of 
them familiar to my ear in habitual music, — yet in that 
familiarity reverenced, as transcending all thought, and or- 
daining all conduct. This she effected, not by her own sayings 
or personal authority; but simply by compelling me to read 
the Book thoroughly, for myself. As soon as I was able to read 
with fluency, she began a course of Bible work with me, which 
never ceased till I went to Oxford. She read alternate verses 
with me, watching, at first, every intonation of my voice, 
and correcting the false ones, till she made me understand 
the verse, if within my reach, rightly, and energetically. It 
might be beyond me altogether; that she did not care about; 
but she made sure that as soon as I got hold of it at all, I should 
get hold of it by the right end. In this way she began with the 
first verse of Genesis, and went straight through, to the last 
verse of the Apocalypse . . . After our chapters (from two 
to three a day, according to their length), ... I had to learn 
a few verses by heart, or repeat, to make sure I had not lost 
something of what was already known. 

John Ruskin: Proeterita 

DANIEL WEBSTER 

The father had a fine voice, " an untaught, yet correct 
ear," the son says, "and a keen perception of all that was 
beautiful or sublime in thought." He often read the Bible 



470 APPENDIX 

aloud to his children, especially the grand poetry of the Old 
Testament. Hence those marvellous tones of the son, and his 
love for all similar literature. 

S. G. Fisher: The True Daniel Webster 

His (Daniel Webster's) talents were known in the neigh- 
borhood, and the passing teamsters, while they watered 
their horses, dehghted to get "Webster's boy," with his deli- 
cate look and great dark eyes, to come out beneath the shade 
of the trees and read the Bible to them with all the force of 
his childish eloquence. 

H. C. Lodge: Daniel Webster 

JOHN HARRINGTON COX 

First of all in importance is the King James Version of the 
Bible. Any study of English literature worthy the name 
must take this book into account. It is indispensable, — it is 
not possible to omit it. Our language is thoroughly satu- 
rated with innumerable references to it. . . . It is practically 
impossible to read even our simplest prose and poetry with- 
out a tolerably wide and accurate knowledge of the Bible. 
The fabric of English thought is so interwoven with the 
golden threads of the Bible that it is not possible to remove 
them without destroying the fabric. This wonderful Book 
has shaped the faith and thought of Europe and America. 
It is the foundation of our intellectual heritage. Its power to 
move the imagination and stir the emotions is unsurpassed. 
This power does not lie within the religious sphere alone, 
but non-religious men find in it a marvellous uplift and un- 
believers testify to its greatness. Its message is to the simple 
and the learned alike. For generations especially in the eight- 
eenth and nineteenth centuries, it was the one book of most 
households. Its austere simplicity and terrible earnestness 
burned themselves into the language, the thought, and the 
spirit of English-speaking peoples. 

John Harrington Cox: Literature in the Common Schools ^ 

1 From Literature in the Common Schools, by John Harrington 
Cox. Copyright, 1908, by Little, Brown & Company. 



APPENDIX 471 

ORTON LOWE 

There is yet one book of powerful and pure English that 
must be mentioned. The boy should have early heard it 
read aloud, learned passages from it by heart, and have read 
parts of it on his own account. In proportion as he has gath- 
ered the richness of this book, will he have a grasp on clear 
language and clear understanding. That book is the Version 
of the Bible authorized by King James. It gave to our fathers 
not only their faith, but also that grip on racy, clear, and 
vigorous English that made many an artisan a better talker 
and writer than the man trained in the halls of higher 
learning. It has had a power above all other books in English 
to stir the imagination and move the soul, and this without 
regard to any particular religious belief. No book has ever told 
stories with the ease, directness, and intensity of this one. Its 
style expresses the strongest and deepest feelings of English- 
speaking men. And this style has been caught by such masters 
of prose in their own centuries as Bunyan and Lincoln. Yet 
it is evident to teachers that the great stories of the Scrip- 
tures are not known by children. The Bible needs to be 
dusted and read, even if it is brought about by the strong 
hand of authority in the home and in the school. 

Orton Lowe: Literature for Children 

THOMAS H. HUXLEY 

If I were compelled to choose for one of my own children 
between a school in which real religious instruction is given, 
and one without it, I should prefer the former even though 
the child might have to take a good deal of theology with 
it. . . . Hence when the great mass of the English people 
declare that they want to have the children in the elemen- 
tary schools taught the Bible, and when it is plain from 
the terms of the Act, the debates in and out of Parlia- 
ment, and especially the emphatic declarations of the Vice- 
President of the Council, that it was intended that such 
Bible reading should be permitted unless good cause for pro- 
hibiting it could be shown, I do not see what reason there 



472 APPENDIX 

is for opposing that wish. Certainly I, individually, could 
with no shadow of consistency oppose the teaching of the 
children of other people to do that which my own children 
are taught to do. And even if the reading the Bible were not, 
as I think it is, consonant with political reason and justice, 
... I am disposed to think it might still be well to read that 
book in the elementary schools. 

Thomas H. Huxley: The School Boards 



ARLO BATES 

I wish to speak on the same footing to those who do and 
those who do not regard the Bible as a sacred book. . . . Let 
for the moment these points be waived entirely, and there 
remains the splendid literary worth of this great classic; 
there remains the fact that it has shaped faith and fortune 
for the whole of Europe and America for centuries; and es- 
pecially that the English version has been the most powerful 
of all intellectual and imaginative forces in moulding the 
thought and literature of all English-speaking peoples. 

Arlo Bates : Talks on the Study of Literature 



FELIX ADLER 

The narrative of the Bible is fairly saturated with the 
moral spirit; the moral issues are everywhere in the fore- 
front. Duty, guilt and its punishment, the conflict of con- 
science with inclination, are the leading themes. The He- 
brew people seem to have been endowed with what may be 
called "a moral genius" and especially did they emphasize 
the filial and fraternal duties to an extent hardly equaled 
elsewhere. Now it is precisely these duties that must be im- 
pressed on young children, and hence the Biblical stories 
present us with the very material we require. They cannot 
in this respect be replaced; there is no other literature in the 
world that offers what is equal to them in value for the par- 
ticular object we have now in view. 

Felix Adler: Moral Instruction of Children 



APPENDIX 473 

ALFRED THE GREAT 

To use his own words, he was desirous **that all the free- 
born youths of his people who had the means should per- 
severe in learning so long as they had no other duties to at- 
tend to, until they could read the English Scriptures with 
fluency." Thomas Hughes: Alfred the Great 



Like a most productive bee, he flew here and there asking 
questions, as he went, until he had eagerly and unceasingly 
collected many various flowers of divine Scripture, with 
which he thickly stored the cells of his mind. 

Asser's Life of Alfred 



THOMAS CARLYLE 

And so we have it here to read, that Book of Books: 
"barbarous enough to rouse, tender enough to assuage, and 
possessing how many other properties," says Goethe; — 
possessing this property, inclusive of all, add we, that it is 
written under the eye of the Eternal; that it is of a Sincerity 
like very Death; the truest Utterance that ever came by 
Alphabetic Letters from the Soul of Man. Through which, 
as through a window divinely opened, all men could look, 
and can still look, beyond the visual Air-Firmaments and 
mysterious Time-Oceans, into the Light-Sea of Infinitude, 
into the stillness of Eternity; and discern in glimpses . . . 
their far-distant, long forgotten Home. 

Thomas Caklyle: Historical Sketches 



JOHN MH^TON 

True religion is the true worship and service of God, 
learned and believed from the Word of God only. No man 
or angel can know how God would be worshipped and served 
unless God reveal it: he hath revealed and taught it us in 
the Holy Scriptures by inspired ministers, and in the gospel 



474 APPENDIX 

by His own Son and His apostles, with strictest command 
to reject all other traditions or additions whatsoever. . . . 
The Scripture is our only principle in religion. 

John Milton: Heresy, Schismy Toleration 



JOHN WESLEY 

I want to know one thing, — the way to Heaven; how 
to land safe on that happy shore. God Himself has conde- 
scended to teach the way. For this very end He came from 
Heaven. He hath written it down in a book. Oh give me 
that Book! At any price, give me the book of God! I have 
it: here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be homo unius 
lihri. Here then I am, far from the busy ways of men. I sit 
down alone; only God is here. Li His presence I open, I read 
His book. . . . And what I thus learn, that I teach. 

John Wesley: Preface to Sermons 



SIR WALTER SCOTT 

Next morning he was still better ... he desired to be drawn 
into the library and placed by the central window that he 
might look down upon the Tweed. Here he expressed a wish 
that I should read to him, and when I asked from what 
book, he said: "Need you ask.^ there is but one." 

J. G. Lockhart: Life of Sir Walter Scott 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN 

Lincoln said to a committee of colored people who pre- 
sented him with a copy of the Bible, **In regard to this great 
book, I have but to say it is the best gift God has given to 
man. All the good Saviour gave to the world was communi- 
cated through this book. But for it we could not know right 
from wrong. All things most desirable for man's welfare, 
here and hereafter, are to be found portrayed in it. To you 
I return my most sincere thanks for the very elegant copy of 
the great Book of God which you present.'* 



APPENDIX 475 



THOMAS CARTER 

We know that Bacon, Milton, and many other great men 
of the Elizabethan period were trained in the (Genevan) 
Version, and used it to the end of life. No writer has assimi- 
lated the thoughts and reproduced the words of Holy Scrip- 
ture more copiously than Shakespeare. As Dr. Furnivall 
puts it: "he is saturated with the Bible story." . . . Whatever 
else the poet had or lacked, he must have brought to his 
work a mind richly stored with the thoughts and words of 
the English Bible. A man does not learn the Bible by intu- 
ition. . . . The power of apt and literal quotation is seldom 
acquired after the earlier days of manhood have passed, and 
no man can quote instinctively and correctly unless he has 
been well grounded in his childhood. The spontaneous flow 
of scriptural ideas and phrases which are to be found every- 
where in the plays, reveals the fact most clearly that the 
mind of Shakespeare must indeed have been "saturated" 
with the Word of God. 

Thomas Cakter: Shakespeare and the Holy Scriptures 



J. R. GREEN 

No greater moral change ever passed over a nation than 
passed over England during the years which parted the 
middle of the reign of Elizabeth from the meeting of the 
Long Parliament. England became the people of a book, 
and that book was the Bible. It was as yet the one English 
book which was familiar to every Englishman; it was read 
at churches and read at home, and everywhere its words, as 
they fell on ears which custom had not deadened, kindled 
a startling enthusiasm. . . . But far greater than its effect 
on Hterature or social phrase was the effect of the Bible on 
the character of the people at large. Elizabeth might silence 
or tune the pulpits; but it was impossible for her to silence 
or tune the great preachers of justice, and mercy, and truth, 
who spoke from the book which she had again opened for her 
people. . . . One dominant influence told on human action: 



476 APPENDIX 

and all the activities that had been caUed into life by the 
age that was passing away were seized, concentrated, and 
steadied to a dejfinite aim by the spirit of religion. The whole 
temper of the nation felt the change. A new conception of 
life and of man superseded the old. A new moral and re- 
ligious impulse spread through every class. 

J. R. Green: Short History oj the English People 

LORD BRYCE 

To convey some impression of the character and .type 
which religion has taken in America, and to estimate its in- 
fluence as a moral and spiritual force, is an infinitely harder 
task than to sketch the salient ecclesiastical phenomena 
of the country. ... If therefore we desire to know what 
place Christianity really fills in America, and how far it gives 
stability to the commonwealth, we must inquire how far it 
governs the life and moulds the mind of the country. . , . 
In works of active beneficence no country has surpassed, 
perhaps none has equalled, the United States. . . . Not all, 
but I think nearly all of it, is in fact given by religious people, 
and, as they themselves suppose, under a religious impulse. 
. . . The ethical standard of the average man is of course the 
Christian standard, modified to some slight extent by the 
circumstances of American Hfe, which have been different 
from those of Protestant Europe. The average man has not 
thought of any other standard, and religious teaching, 
though it has become less definite and less dogmatic, is still 
to him the source whence he believes himself to have drawn 
his ideas of duty and conduct. . . . 

The general impression of those who have lived long both 
in Protestant Europe and in America seems to be that as 
respects veracity, temperance, the purity of domestic life, 
tenderness to children and the weak, and general kindliness 
of behaviour, the native Americans stand rather higher than 
either the EngUsh or the Germans. And those whose opinion 
I am quoting seem generally, though not universally, dis- 
posed to think that the influence of religious belief, which 
may survive in its effect upon the character when a man 



APPENDIX 477 

has dropped his connection with any religious body, counts 
for a good deal in this. . . . 

A perusal of the literature which the American of the 
educated farming class reads, and a study of the kind of 
literature which those who are least coloured by European 
influences produce, led one to think that the Bible and 
Christian theology altogether have in the past done more in 
the way of forming the imaginative background to an average 
American view of the world of man and nature than they 
have in most European countries. 

No one is so thoughtless as not sometimes to ask himself 
what would befall mankind if the solid fabric of belief on 
which their morality has hitherto rested, or at least been 
deemed by them to rest, were suddenly to break up and 
vanish under the influence of new views of nature. . . . 
So sometimes, standing in the midst of a great American 
city, and watching the throngs of eager figures streaming 
hither and thither, marking the sharp contrasts of poverty 
and wealth, an increasing mass of wretchedness and an in- 
creasing display of luxury, knowing that before long a hun- 
dred millions of men will be living between ocean and ocean 
under this one government, — a government which their 
own hands have made, and which they feel to be the work of 
their own hands, — one is startled by the thought of what 
might befall this huge yet delicate fabric of laws and com- 
merce and social institutions were the foundation it has 
rested on to crumble away. 

Suppose that all these men ceased to believe that there 
was any power above them, any future before them, -any- 
thing in heaven or earth but what their senses told them of; 
suppose that their consciousness of individual force and 
responsibility, already dwarfed by the overwhelming power 
of the multitude, and the fatalistic submission it engenders, 
were further weakened by the feeling that their swiftly 
fleeting life was rounded by a perpetual sleep. . . would the 
moral code stand unshaken, and with it the reverence for 
law, the sense of duty towards the community, and even 
towards the generations yet to come? Would men say, 
"Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die".'^ . . . History 



478 APPENDIX 

cannot answer this question. The most she can tell us is 
that hitherto civilized society has rested on religion, and 
that free government has prospered best among religious 
peoples. 

America is no doubt the country in which intellectual 
movements work most swiftly upon the masses, and the 
country in which the loss of faith in the invisible might 
produce the completest revolution; because it is the country 
where men have been least wont to revere anything in the 
visible world. ... It was religious zeal and the religious 
conscience which led to the founding of the New England 
colonies nearly three centuries ago, — those colonies whose 
spirit has in such a large measure passed into the whole na- 
tion. Religion and conscience have' been a constantly active 
force in the American Commonwealth ever since, not, indeed, 
strong enough to avert many moral and political evils, yet 
at the worst times inspiring a minority with a courage and 
ardour by which moral and political evils have been held at 
bay, and in the long run generally overcome. 

It is an old saying that monarchies live by honour and 
republics by virtue. The more democratic republics become, 
the more the masses grow conscious of their own power, 
the more do they need to live, not only by patriotism, but 
by reverence and self-control, and the more essential to 
their well-being are those sources whence reverence and 
self-control flow. 

Lord Bryce: American Commonwealth 

MARTIN LUTHER 

A fiery shield is God's Word, of more substance and purer 
than gold, which tried in the fire loses naught of its substance, 
but resists and overcomes all the fury of the fierce heat. Even 
so he that believes God's Word overcomes all and remains 
secure everlastingly against all misfortunes; for this shield 
fears nothing, neither hell nor the devil. . . . No greater mis- 
chief can befall a Christian people than to have God's Word 
taken from them or falsified so that they no longer have it 
pure and clear. God grant we and our descendants be not 



APPENDIX 479 

witnesses of such a calamity. . . . Let us not lose the Bible, 
but with diligence in fear and invocation of God, read and 
preach it. While that remains and flourishes, all prospers 
with the State. 

Martin Luther: Table Talk 



APPENDIX B 
FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE 

GOD SAITH 

My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways 
my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than 
the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my 
thoughts than your thoughts. 

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, 
and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and 
maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the 
sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that 
goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me 
void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall 
prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

Isaiah, 55 

CHRIST JESUS SAITH 

And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the 
temple. How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David .f* 
For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said 
to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine 
enemies thy footstool. David therefore himself calleth him 
Lord: and whence is he then his son.f* 

Mark, 12 

Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power 
of God. 

Matthew, 22 

Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal 
life : and they are they which testify of me. 

John, 5 

And he said unto them. These are the words which I spake 
unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be 
fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the 
prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 



APPENDIX 481 

Then opened he their understanding, that they might 
understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it i» 
written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise 
from the dead the third day : and that repentance and remis- 
sion of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, 
beginning at Jerusalem. 

Luke, 24 

IT SAITH IN THE EPISTLES! 

We 'have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto 
ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in 
a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in 
your hearts. 

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of 
any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in 
old time by the will of man : but holy men of God spake as 
they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

2 Peter, 1 

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned 
and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned 
them ; and that from a child thou hast known the holy Scrip- 
tures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation 
through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profit- 
able for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in 
righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thor- 
oughly furnished unto all good works. 

2 Timothy, 3 

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper 
than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing 
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and 
is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither 
is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all 
things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with 
whom we have to do. 

Hebrews, 4 



482 APPENDIX 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. 

Now to him that is of power to stabHsh you according to 
my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to 
the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since 
the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the 
Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment 
of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the 
obedience of faith: 

To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. 
Amen. 

Romans, 16 



APPENDIX C 

EDITIONS OF THE BIBLE 
RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN 

Every child should have his own Bible, and he should be 
encouraged to read something from it each day. The read- 
ing should be made a pleasure, not a task. The habit ac- 
quired in childhood of daily reading the Bible, will be likely 
to continue a life-habit. When mother and child can read 
together, the influence on the child will be greater and more 
lasting, especially if the mother reads aloud. 

If possible the child's name should be printed in gold let- 
ters on the cover of his Bible; this will give him a sense of 
ownership and pleasure in the Book. Any binder will print 
the name for a small sum. The delight this will give the child 
will make it well worth while. 

The editions recommended here are of the Authorized 
Version, whose powerful, simple English carries its teaching 
home with a forcefulness that makes a permanent impres- 
sion on the memory. The fine English, too, of this Version, 
is of educational benefit as it strengthens the style and vo- 
cabulary of a child, especially if the Bible is read aloud. 

Bibles may be ordered directly through the local book- 
seller, or by mail from one of the Bible Houses. If ordered by 
mail, postage is extra. Both of the Bible Houses, whose ad- 
dresses are given below, issue free catalogues showing spec- 
imen types, and giving descriptions of the editions issued 
by them. There are cheap, moderately priced, and expen- 
sive Bibles, to choose from. If possible it is best to get a 
well-made Bible, printed on good paper in clear type, so that 
it may last years, if not for a hfetime. When ordering, give 
order number and description of volume desired. 

ADDRESSES OF BIBLE HOUSES 

American Bible Society, Astor Place, New York City, N. Y. 
Oxford University Press, American Branch, 35 West 33d 
Street, New York City, N.Y. 



484 APPENDIX 



EDITIONS OF THE HOLY BIBLE 

Holy Bible. Containing Old and New Testaments. 
Bound in cloth, maps, red edges, order num- 
ber 01470, Oxford University $1 .00 

Holy Bible. Same edition, bound in French mo- 
rocco, red under gold edges, order number 
01473, Oxford University $1 .75 

Holy Bible. Same edition, bound in Persian mo- 
rocco, leather lined, silk sewed, red under gold 
edges, order number 01480, Oxford University . . $3.75 

This is a handy, compact Bible, with clear though 
small print. It is attractive for both children and young 
people. The volume for $1.75 is especially recom- 
mended. 

Holy Bible. Bound in cloth, red edges, 12 maps, 

order number 01600, Oxford University $1 .35 

The print of this edition is large and recommended 
for children who have weak eyes. The volume is big- 
ger and less attractive than those listed above. Morocco- 
bound editions come at higher prices, for which see 
free catalogue of the Oxford University Press. 

Holy Bible. Bound in French morocco, limp, red 
under gold edges, 32 full-page colored pic- 
tures, order number 02603, Oxford University. . . $2 . 90 

The 32 pictures illustrate the customs and country 
of Palestine. The print is large and readable. 

Holy Bible. Bound in cloth, red edges, order num- 
ber Eng. 117, American Bible Society 48 cents. 

This edition is cheap. It has small but readable type. 
It is not so desirable as a better-made Bible. The 
American Bible House issues many cheap and also 
moderately priced editions, which may be found de- 
scribed in the free catalogue of the American Bible 
Society, whose address is given above. 



APPENDIX 485 

EDITIONS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT 

New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ. Bound in French morocco, red under 
gold edges, order number 0260, Oxford Uni- 
versity $1.25 

This edition is very attractive, with large print. 
The same comes in cheaper form for 50 cents, order 
number 0255. An expensive gift edition of the same 
may he procured, hound in Alaska seal, leather lined 
and silk sewed, red and gold edges, order number 
0288X, price $5.50. 

New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ. Bound in boards, order number 
01200, Oxford University 25 cents. 

A most attractive edition of the New Testament 
complete, for little children under 10 years of age. It 
has a green picture cover, and black-and-white pic- 
tures shovnng the manners and country of Palestine. 
Recommended as one of the first books to he given to 
a little child. 

BOY scout's new TESTAMENT 

New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ. Bound in khaki, order number 071X, 
Oxford University 45 cents. 

New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ. Same Edition, illustrated with 15 
colored pictures, order number 095X, Oxford 
University 60 cents. 

Every hoy, whether he is a Scout or not, should own 
a copy of this pocket edition. It is appropriately 
bound in khaki, with the Scout emblem in gold on the 
cover. The Testament is complete, and contains the 
Scout Law, and a list of Scriptures suitable for Scouts. 
The 60-cent volume, u^th colored pictures, is espe- 
cially attractive. Recommended by the Executive Com- 
mittee of the Boy Scouts of America. 



486 APPENDIX 

EDITIONS OF PSALMS AND PROVERBS 

Book of Psalms. Bound in French morooco, limp, 

order number 08, Oxford University 95 cents. 

Large type, attractive book. The same edition, bound 
in cloth, comes for 35 cents, order number 07. 

Book of Psalms. Bound in cloth, red edges, order 

number Eng. 442, American Bible Society . . 8 cents. 

Small type. Pocket edition. 

Proverbs. Bound in morocco, gold edges, order 

number Eng. 452, American Bible Society. . . 45 cents. 

Every child, especially every hoy, should own a copy 
of Proverbs. This edition is attractive, pocket size, witH: 
large print. A cheap edition of [the same, bound in 
cloth, comes for 8 cents, order number Eng. 4-5^. 



FOREIGN BIBLES AND BIBLES FOR THE BLIND 

The American Bible Society sends out on application, a 
free catalogue describing their many Bibles and parts of 
Bibles issued in foreign tongues. They also give a list of 
Bibles printed and provided by them for the blind, in Line, 
New York Point, American Braille, and Moon types. 



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